Powders MCQs

We have provided 60 MCQs on Pharmaceutical powders, Unit-2, 1st semester, Pharmaceutics, B. Pharm.

We have covered following Topics:

Powders: Definition, classification, advantages and disadvantages,Simple & compound powders – official preparations, dusting powders, effervescent, efflorescent and hygroscopic powders, eutectic mixtures, Geometric dilutions

MCQ on Pharmaceutical powders

Question 1: What is the definition of a powder?

  • A. A solid dosage form of medicament which is meant for internal or external use.
  • B. A mixture of finely divided drug and/or chemicals in a dry form.
  • C. A combination of two or more solid dosage forms.
  • D. A solid dosage form that is administered orally.

Answer: B. A mixture of finely divided drug and/or chemicals in a dry form.


Question 2: What are the advantages of powders?

  • A. Easy to administer
  • B. Rapid onset of action
  • C. Convenient to carry
  • D. Stable dosage form

Answer: All of the above


Question 3: What are the disadvantages of powders?

  • A. Difficult to dispense accurately
  • B. Can be bitter or unpleasant to taste
  • C. Hygroscopic and deliquescent drugs cannot be dispensed in powder form
  • D. Can be irritating to the lungs

Answer: All of the above


Question 4: What are the different types of powders?

  • A. Simple powders
  • B. Compound powders
  • C. Dusting powders
  • D. Effervescent powders
  • E. Efflorescent powders
  • F. Hygroscopic powders
  • G. Eutectic mixtures

Answer: All of the above


Question 5: What is a simple powder?

  • A. A powder that contains only one ingredient.
  • B. A powder that contains two or more ingredients.
  • C. A powder that is used for internal administration.
  • D. A powder that is used for external administration.

Answer: A. A powder that contains only one ingredient.


Question 6: What is a compound powder?

  • A. A powder that contains two or more ingredients.
  • B. A powder that is used for internal administration.
  • C. A powder that is used for external administration.
  • D. A powder that is dispensed in bulk.

Answer: A. A powder that contains two or more ingredients.


Question 7: What is a dusting powder?

  • A. A powder that is used for external application to the skin.
  • B. A powder that is used to absorb moisture and reduce friction.
  • C. A powder that is used to protect the skin from irritation.
  • D. A powder that is used to deliver medication to the skin.

Answer: All of the above


Question 8: What is an effervescent powder?

  • A. A powder that contains two or more ingredients that react when mixed with water to produce carbon dioxide gas.
  • B. A powder that is used to relieve heartburn and indigestion.
  • C. A powder that is used to cleanse the colon.
  • D. A powder that is used to promote hydration.

Answer: A. A powder that contains two or more ingredients that react when mixed with water to produce carbon dioxide gas.


Question 9: What is an efflorescent powder?

  • A. A powder that loses water of crystallization when exposed to air.
  • B. A powder that absorbs water from the air.
  • C. A powder that melts when exposed to air.
  • D. A powder that reacts with air to form an explosive mixture.

Answer: A. A powder that loses water of crystallization when exposed to air.


Question 10: What is a hygroscopic powder?

  • A. A powder that absorbs water from the air.
  • B. A powder that loses water of crystallization when exposed to air.
  • C. A powder that melts when exposed to air.
  • D. A powder that reacts with air to form an explosive mixture.

Answer: A. A powder that absorbs water from the air.


Question 11: What is a eutectic mixture?

  • A. A mixture of two or more substances that has a lower melting point than any of the individual substances.
  • B. A mixture of two or more substances that has a higher melting point than any of the individual substances.
  • C. A mixture of two or more substances that is more soluble than any of the individual substances.
  • D. A mixture of two or more substances that is less soluble than any of the individual substances.

Answer: A. A mixture of two or more substances that has a lower melting point than any of the individual substances.

Question 12: What is geometric dilution?

  • A. A method of diluting a powder by mixing it with a diluent in a specific ratio.
  • B. A method of diluting a powder by mixing it with a diluent in a random ratio.
  • C. A method of diluting a powder by mixing it with a diluent until the desired concentration is reached.
  • D. A method of diluting a powder by mixing it with a diluent until the desired volume is reached.

Answer: A. A method of diluting a powder by mixing it with a diluent in a specific ratio.


Question 13: What is the official preparation of simple and compound powders?

  • A. Powders are dispensed in powder papers.
  • B. Powders are dispensed in capsules.
  • C. Powders are dispensed in tablets.
  • D. Powders are dispensed in bulk.

Answer: A. Powders are dispensed in powder papers.


Question 14: Which of the following is not a dusting powder?

  • A. Talcum powder
  • B. Cornstarch powder
  • C. Boric acid powder
  • D. Aspirin powder

Answer: D. Aspirin powder


Question 15: Which of the following is not an effervescent powder?

  • A. Sodium bicarbonate + citric acid
  • B. Sodium bicarbonate + tartaric acid
  • C. Sodium bicarbonate + acetic acid
  • D. Sodium bicarbonate + hydrochloric acid

Answer: D. Sodium bicarbonate + hydrochloric acid


Question 16: Which of the following is not an efflorescent powder?

  • A. Sodium sulfate
  • B. Sodium carbonate
  • C. Copper sulfate
  • D. Potassium alum

Answer: D. Potassium alum


Question 17: Which of the following is not a hygroscopic powder?

  • A. Calcium chloride
  • B. Sodium chloride
  • C. Magnesium chloride
  • D. Potassium chloride

Answer: D. Potassium chloride


Question 18: Which of the following is not a eutectic mixture?

  • A. Sodium chloride + potassium chloride
  • B. Lead + tin
  • C. Bismuth + tin
  • D. Ice + salt

Answer: A. Sodium chloride + potassium chloride


Question 19: What is the formula for geometric dilution?

  • A. C1/C2 = V1/V2
  • B. C1V1 = C2V2
  • C. C1 + C2 = V1 + V2
  • D. C1 – C2 = V1 – V2

Answer: B. C1V1 = C2V2


Question 20: Which of the following is not a use of geometric dilution?

  • A. To prepare a dilution of a powder for internal administration
  • B. To prepare a dilution of a powder for external administration
  • C. To prepare a dilution of a powder for use in a chemical reaction
  • D. To prepare a dilution of a powder for use in a biological assay

Answer: D. To prepare a dilution of a powder for use in a biological assay


Question 21: Which of the following is not a factor that affects the flowability of a powder?

  • A. Particle size
  • B. Particle shape
  • C. Surface area of the particles
  • D. Humidity

Answer: D. Humidity


Question 22: Which of the following is not a method of improving the flowability of a powder?

  • A. Adding a glidant
  • B. Adding a lubricant
  • C. Reducing the particle size
  • D. Increasing the humidity

Answer: D. Increasing the humidity


Question 23: Which of the following is not a method of mixing powders?

  • A. Blending
  • B. Tumbling
  • C. Sifting
  • D. Grinding

Answer: D. Grinding


Question 24: Which of the following is not a type of packaging for powders?

  • A. Powder papers
  • B. Capsules
  • C. Tablets
  • D. Vials

Answer: D. Vials


Question 25: Which of the following is not a storage condition for powders?

  • A. Store in a cool, dry place
  • B. Protect from light
  • C. Keep tightly closed
  • D. Store in a refrigerator

Answer: D. Store in a refrigerator


Question 26: Which of the following is not a quality control test for powders?

  • A. Bulk density
  • B. Angle of repose
  • C. Solubility
  • D. Flowability

Answer: C. Solubility


Question 27: Which of the following is not a route of administration for powders?

  • A. Oral
  • B. Topical
  • C. Parenteral
  • D. Inhalation

Answer: C. Parenteral


Question 28: Which of the following is not a common use for powders?

  • A. Pharmaceutical
  • B. Food
  • C. Cosmetic
  • D. Industrial

Answer: C. Cosmetic


Question 29: Which of the following is not a safety consideration when using powders?

  • A. Avoid inhaling the powder
  • B. Avoid contact with the eyes and skin
  • C. Wash hands thoroughly after handling the powder
  • D. Store the powder in a safe place

Answer: D. Store the powder in a safe place


Question 30: Which of the following is not an example of a bulk powder?

  • A. Flour
  • B. Sugar
  • C. Salt
  • D. Cement

Answer: D. Cement


Question 31: Which of the following is not an example of a fine powder?

  • A. Talcum powder
  • B. Cornstarch powder
  • C. Boric acid powder
  • D. Aspirin powder

Answer: D. Aspirin powder


Question 32: Which of the following is not an example of a powder mixture?

  • A. Sand and gravel
  • B. Salt and pepper
  • C. Sugar and flour
  • D. Oil and water

Answer: D. Oil and water


Question 33: Which of the following is not a use of geometric dilution in pharmacy?

  • A. To prepare a dilution of a potent drug for internal administration
  • B. To prepare a dilution of a drug for external application
  • C. To prepare a dilution of a drug for use in a chemical reaction
  • D. To prepare a dilution of a drug for use in a biological assay

Answer: C. To prepare a dilution of a drug for use in a chemical reaction


Question 34: Which of the following is not a quality control test for powder mixtures?

  • A. Uniformity of content
  • B. Uniformity of blend
  • C. Flowability
  • D. Solubility

Answer: D. Solubility


Question 35: Which of the following is not a safety consideration when using powder mixtures?

  • A. Avoid inhaling the powder
  • B. Avoid contact with the eyes and skin
  • C. Wash hands thoroughly after handling the powder
  • D. Store the powder mixture in a safe place

Answer: D. Store the powder mixture in a safe place


Question 36: Which of the following is not an example of a powder dosage form?

  • A. Capsules
  • B. Tablets
  • C. Granules
  • D. Powders

Answer: D. Powders


Question 37: Which of the following is not an example of a powder administration device?

  • A. Spoon
  • B. Inhaler
  • C. Capsule
  • D. Tablet

Answer: D. Tablet


Question 38: Which of the following is not a common challenge in the formulation of powder dosage forms?

  • A. Ensuring good flowability
  • B. Ensuring uniform content
  • C. Ensuring dissolution
  • D. Ensuring stability

Answer: D. Ensuring stability


Question 39: Which of the following is not a common excipient used in powder formulations?

  • A. Lactose
  • B. Starch
  • C. Talcum powder
  • D. Magnesium stearate

Answer: C. Talcum powder


Question 40: Which of the following is not a method of manufacturing powder dosage forms?

  • A. Blending
  • B. Granulation
  • C. Trituration
  • D. Compression

Answer: B. Granulation

Authors

  • Pharmacy Freak Editorial Team is the official editorial voice of PharmacyFreak.com, dedicated to creating high-quality educational resources for healthcare learners. Our team publishes and reviews exam preparation content across pharmacy, nursing, coding, social work, and allied health topics, with a focus on practice questions, study guides, concept-based learning, and practical academic support. We combine subject research, structured editorial review, and clear presentation to make difficult topics more accessible, accurate, and useful for learners preparing for exams and professional growth.

  • G S Sachin Author Pharmacy Freak
    : Reviewer

    G S Sachin is a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. He holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research and creates clear, accurate educational content on pharmacology, drug mechanisms of action, pharmacist learning, and GPAT exam preparation.

    Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com

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