Ansel's Terminologies

Question 1

Used in liquid preparations to provide acidic
medium for product stability

Answer 1

Acidifying agent

Question 2

Used in liquid preparations to provide alkaline
medium for product stability

Answer 2

Alkalinizing agent

Question 3

An agent capable of holding other molecules onto
its surface by physical or chemical (chemisorption)
means

Answer 3

Adsorbent

Question 4

Agent responsible for developing the pressure
within an aerosol container and expelling the
product when the valve is opened

Answer 4

Aerosol propellant

Question 5

Agent employed to displace air in a hermetically
sealed container to enhance product stability

Answer 5

Air displacement

Question 6

Used in liquid and semisolid preparations to prevent
growth of fungi. Effectiveness of parabens is usually
enhanced by use in combination

Answer 6

Antifungal preservative

Question 7

Used in liquid and semisolid preparations to prevent
growth of microorganisms

Answer 7

Antimicrobial preservative

Question 8

Used to prevent deterioration of preparations by
oxidation

Answer 8

Antioxidant

Question 9

Used to resist change in pH upon dilution or
addition of acid or alkali

Answer 9

Buffering agent

Question 10

Substance that forms stable water-soluble
complexes (chelates) with metals; used in some
liquid pharmaceuticals as stabilizers to complex
heavy metals that might promote instability. In such
use, they are also called sequestering agents

Answer 10

Chelating agent

Question 11

Used to impart color to liquid and solid (e.g., tablets
and capsules) preparations

Answer 11

Colorant

Question 12

Used as a filtering aid for its adsorbent qualities

Answer 12

Clarifying agent

Question 13

Used to promote and maintain dispersion of finely
subdivided particles of liquid in a vehicle in which it
is immiscible. End product may be a liquid emulsion
or semisolid emulsion (e.g., a cream)

Answer 13

Emulsifying agent

Question 14

Used to form thin shells to enclose a drug for ease
of administration

Answer 14

Encapsulating agent

Question 15

Used to impart a pleasant flavor and often odor to
a preparation. In addition to the natural flavorants
listed, many synthetic ones are used

Answer 15

Flavorant

Question 16

Used to prevent drying of preparations, particularly
ointments and creams

Answer 16

Humectant

Question 17

Liquid used as an intervening agent to reduce the
particle size of a powder by grinding, usually in a
mortar

Answer 17

Levigating agent

Question 18

Semisolid vehicle for medicated ointments

Answer 18

Ointment base

Question 19

Component of film-coating solutions to make film
more pliable, enhance spread of coat over tablets,
beads, and granules

Answer 19

Plasticizer

Question 20

Used to dissolve another substance in preparation
of a solution; may be aqueous or not (e.g.,
oleaginous). Cosolvents, such as water and alcohol
(hydroalcoholic) and water and glycerin, may be
used when needed. Sterile solvents are used in
certain preparations (e.g., injections)

Answer 20

Solvent

Question 21

Used to increase thickness or hardness of a
preparation, usually an ointment

Answer 21

Stiffening agent

Question 22

Vehicle for suppositories

Answer 22

Suppository base

Question 23

Substances that absorb to surfaces or interfaces to
reduce surface or interfacial tension. May be used
as wetting agents, detergents, or emulsifying agents

Answer 23

Surfactant (surface active
agent)

Question 24

Viscosity-increasing agent used to reduce
sedimentation rate of particles in a vehicle in which
they are not soluble; suspension may be formulated
for oral, parenteral, ophthalmic, topical, or other
route

Answer 24

Suspending agent

Question 25

Used to impart sweetness to a preparation

Answer 25

Sweetening agent

Question 26

Prevent tablet ingredients from sticking to punches
and dies during production

Answer 26

Tablet antiadherent

Question 27

Substances used to cause adhesion of powder
particles in tablet granulations

Answer 27

Tablet binders

Question 28

Inert filler to create desired bulk, flow properties,
and compression characteristics of tablets and
capsules

Answer 28

Tablet and capsule diluent

Question 29

Used to coat a tablet to protect against
decomposition by atmospheric oxygen or humidity,
to provide a desired release pattern, to mask taste
or odor, or for aesthetic purposes. Coating may be
sugar, film, or thick covering around a tablet. Sugarcoated tablets generally start to break up in the
stomach. Film forms a thin cover around a formed
tablet or bead. Unless it is enteric, film dissolves in
the stomach. Enteric coating passes through the
stomach to break up in the intestines. Some waterinsoluble coatings (e.g., ethylcellulose) are used to
slow the release of drug in the gastrointestinal tract

Answer 29

• Tablet-coating agent
• Sugar coating
• Film coating
• Enteric coating

Question 30

Used in direct compression tablet formulations

Answer 30

Tablet direct compression excipient

Question 31

Used in solid forms to promote disruption of the
mass into smaller particles more readily dispersed
or dissolved

Answer 31

Tablet disintegrant

Question 32

Used in tablet and capsule formulations to improve
flow properties of the powder mixture

Answer 32

Tablet glidant

Question 33

Used in tablet formulations to reduce friction during
tablet compression

Answer 33

Tablet lubricant

Question 34

Used to render a coating opaque. May be used
alone or with a colorant

Answer 34

Tablet or capsule opaquant

Question 35

Used to impart an attractive sheen to coated
tablets

Answer 35

Tablet polishing agent

Question 36

Used to render solution similar in osmotic-dextrose
characteristics to physiologic fluids, for example, in
ophthalmic, parenteral, and irrigation fluids

Answer 36

Tonicity agent

Question 37

Carrying agent used in formulating a variety of
liquids for oral and parenteral administration
Generally, oral liquids are aqueous (e.g.,
syrups) or hydroalcoholic (e.g., elixirs). Solutions
for intravenous use are aqueous, whereas
intramuscular injections may be aqueous or
oleaginous

Answer 37

• Vehicle

Question 38

Flavored, sweetened

Answer 38

Acacia syrup
Aromatic syrup
Aromatic elixir
Cherry syrup
Cocoa syrup
Orange syrup
Syrup

Question 39

Oleaginous

Answer 39

Corn oil
Mineral oil
Peanut oil
Sesame oil

Question 40

Sterile

Answer 40

Bacteriostatic sodium chloride
injection

Question 41

Used to render preparations more resistant to flow.
Used in suspensions to deter sedimentation, in
ophthalmic solutions to enhance contact time (e.g.,
methylcellulose), to thicken topical creams, etc

Answer 41

Viscosity - increasing agent