Excipients

Question 1

Acidifying agent

Answer 1

1. ) Citric acid
2. ) Acetic acid
3. ) Fumaric acid

Used in liquid preparations to provide acidic medium for product stability

Question 2

Adsorbent

Answer 2

1. ) Powdered Cellulose
2. ) Activated Charcoal

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

Question 3

Aerosol propellant

Answer 3

1. ) Carbon dioxide
2. ) Dichlorodifluoromethane
3. ) Dichlorotetrafluoroethane

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

Question 4

Air displacement

Answer 4

1.) Nitrogen
2.) Carbon dioxide
Agent employed to displace air in a hermetically sealed container to enhance product stability

Question 5

Alkalinizing agent

Answer 5

1. ) Ammonia solution
2. ) Ammonium carbonate
3. ) Diethanolamine

Used in liquid preparations to provide alkaline medium for product stability

Question 6

Antifungal preservative

Answer 6

1. ) Butylparabens
2. ) Ethylparabens
3. ) Methylparabens

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

Question 7

Antimicrobial preservative

Answer 7

1.) Benzalkonium chloride

Used in liquid and semisolid preparations to prevent growth of microorganisms

Question 8

Antioxidant

Answer 8

1. ) Ascorbic acid
2. ) Ascorbyl palmitate
3. ) Butylated hydroxyanisole

Used to prevent deterioration of preparations by oxidation

Question 9

Buffering agent

Answer 9

1. ) Potassium metaphosphate
2. ) Potassium phosphate (monobasic)
3. ) Sodium acetate

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

Question 10

Chelating agent

Answer 10

1. ) Edetic acid
2. ) Edetate disodium

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

Question 11

Clarifying agent

Answer 11

1.) Bentonite

Used as a filtering aid for its adsorbent qualities

Question 12

Colorant

Answer 12

1. ) FD&C Red No. 3
2. ) FD&C Red No. 20
3. ) FD&C No. 6

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

Question 13

Emulsifying agent

Answer 13

1. ) Acacia
2. ) Cetomacrogol
3. ) Cetyl Alcohol

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)

Question 14

Encapsulating agent

Answer 14

1.) Gelatin

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

Question 15

Enteric coating

Answer 15

1. ) Cellulose acetate phthalate

2. ) Shellac (35% in alcohol, pharm. glaze)

Question 16

Film coating

Answer 16

1. ) Hydroxyethyl cellulose
2. ) Hydroxypropyl cellulose
3. ) Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose

Question 17

Flavorant

Answer 17

1. ) Anise oil
2. ) Cinnamon oil
3. ) Cocoa

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

Question 18

Flavored, sweetened

Answer 18

1. ) Acacia syrup
2. ) Aromatic syrup
3. ) Aromatic elixir

Question 19

Humectant

Answer 19

1. ) Glycerin
2. ) Propylene glycol
3. ) Sorbitol

Used to prevent drying of preparations, particularly ointments and creams

Question 20

Levigating agent

Answer 20

1. ) Mineral oil
2. ) Glycerin
3. ) Propylene glycol

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

Question 21

Ointment base

Answer 21

1. ) Lanolin
2. ) Hydrophilic ointment
3. ) Polyethylene glycol ointment

Semisolid vehicle for medicated ointments

Question 22

Oleaginous

Answer 22

1. ) Corn oil
2. ) Mineral oil
3. ) Peanut oil

Question 23

Plasticizer

Answer 23

1. ) Diethyl phthalate
2. ) Glycerin

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

Question 24

Solvent

Answer 24

1. ) Alcohol
2. ) Corn oil
3. ) Cottonseed oil

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)

Question 25

Sterile

Answer 25

1.) Bacteriostatic sodium chloride injection

Question 26

Stiffening agent

Answer 26

1. ) Cetyl alcohol
2. ) Cetyl Esters wax
3. ) Microcrystalline wax

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

Question 27

Sugar coating

Answer 27

1. ) Liquid glucose

2. ) Sucrose

Question 28

Suppository base

Answer 28

1. ) Cocoa butter
2. ) Polyethylene glycols (mixtures)
3. ) PEG 3350

Vehicle for suppositories

Question 29

Surfactant (surface active agent)

Answer 29

1. ) Benzalkonium chloride
2. ) Nonoxynol 10
3. ) Octoxynol 9

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

Question 30

Suspending agent

Answer 30

1. ) Agar
2. ) Bentonite
3. ) Carbomer (e.g. Carbopol)

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

Question 31

Sweetening agent

Answer 31

1. ) Aspartame
2. ) Dextrose
3. ) Glycerin

Used to impart sweetness to a preparation

Question 32

Tablet and capsule diluent

Answer 32

1. ) Dibasic calcium phosphate
2. ) Kaolin
3. ) Lactose

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

Question 33

Tablet antiadherents

Answer 33

1.) Magnesium stearate

Prevent tablet ingredients from sticking to punches and dies during production

Question 34

Tablet binders

Answer 34

1. ) Acacia
2. ) Alginic acid
3. ) Carboxymethylcellulose sodium

Substances used to cause adhesion of powder particles in tablet granulations

Question 35

Tablet coating agent

Answer 35

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. Sugar-coated 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 water-insoluble coatings (e.g., ethylcellulose) are used to slow the release of drug in the gastrointestinal tract.

Question 36

Tablet direct compression excipient

Answer 36

1.) Dibasic calcium phosphate

Used in direct compression tablet formulations

Question 37

Tablet disintegrant

Answer 37

1. ) Alginic acid
2. ) Polacrilin potassium
3. ) Sodium alginate

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

Question 38

Tablet glidant

Answer 38

1. ) Colloidal silica
2. ) Cornstarch
3. ) Talc

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

Question 39

Tablet lubicrant

Answer 39

1. ) Calcium stearate
2. ) Magnesium stearate
3. ) Mineral oil

Used in tablet formulations to reduce friction during tablet compression

Question 40

Tablet or Capsule opaquant

Answer 40

1.) Titanium dioxide

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

Question 41

Tablet polishing agent

Answer 41

1. ) Carnauba wax
2. ) White wax

Used to impart an attractive sheen to coated tablets

Question 42

Tonicity agent

Answer 42

1.) Sodium chloride

Used to render solution similar in osmotic-dextrose characteristics to physiologic fluids, e.g., in ophthalmic, parenteral, and irrigation fluids

Question 43

Vehicle

Answer 43

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

Question 44

Viscosity-increasing agent

Answer 44

1. ) Alginic acid
2. ) Bentonite
3. ) Carbomer

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.