Skip to contentMCQ on Pharmaceutical technology and manufacturing processes
🟢 Easy Level (1–20)
- The process of reducing particle size using mechanical methods is called:
a) Extraction
b) Comminution ✔️
c) Mixing
d) Filtration
Explanation: Comminution involves breaking down large particles into smaller ones. - Which equipment is used for tablet compression?
a) Homogenizer
b) Tablet press ✔️
c) Capsule filling machine
d) Sinterer
Explanation: Tablet press machines compress powders into tablets. - Which of the following is a mixing device?
a) Ribbon blender ✔️
b) Spray dryer
c) Fluidized bed dryer
d) Rotary granulator
Explanation: Ribbon blenders are commonly used for dry powder mixing. - The term “granulation” refers to:
a) Capsule filling
b) Formation of granules ✔️
c) Milling
d) Extraction
Explanation: Granulation improves flow and compressibility of powders. - Which type of tablet has two or more layers?
a) Sublingual tablet
b) Bilayer tablet ✔️
c) Sugar-coated tablet
d) Chewable tablet
Explanation: Bilayer tablets contain different formulations in separate layers. - What is the purpose of coating a tablet?
a) Increase bitterness
b) Improve appearance and control release ✔️
c) Increase weight
d) Slow manufacturing
Explanation: Coating enhances appearance, taste masking, and modifies release. - Which of the following is a dry granulation method?
a) Wet granulation
b) Slugging ✔️
c) Spray drying
d) Fluidized bed drying
Explanation: Slugging is a dry granulation method using large compacts. - The term GMP stands for:
a) General Manufacturing Practice
b) Good Manufacturing Practice ✔️
c) Gross Market Production
d) Government Medical Protocol
Explanation: GMP ensures consistent quality in pharmaceutical production. - What is used for sterilization by heat?
a) Laminar hood
b) Autoclave ✔️
c) pH meter
d) UV lamp
Explanation: Autoclaves use steam under pressure for sterilization. - The term “aseptic” means:
a) Without vacuum
b) With preservatives
c) Free from contamination ✔️
d) Alcohol-based
Explanation: Aseptic techniques prevent microbial contamination. - The method used for drying heat-sensitive materials is:
a) Hot air oven
b) Tray dryer
c) Freeze drying ✔️
d) Fluidized bed
Explanation: Freeze drying removes water at low temperatures by sublimation. - Which of the following improves tablet disintegration?
a) Superdisintegrants ✔️
b) Binders
c) Lubricants
d) Glidants
Explanation: Superdisintegrants rapidly break the tablet in the GI tract. - What type of capsule has two parts?
a) Hard gelatin capsule ✔️
b) Softgel
c) Caplet
d) Tablet
Explanation: Hard gelatin capsules consist of a body and a cap. - Which is used to enhance powder flowability?
a) Binder
b) Disintegrant
c) Lubricant
d) Glidant ✔️
Explanation: Glidants reduce inter-particle friction and improve flow. - Which dosage form is manufactured using rotary die process?
a) Hard capsules
b) Soft gelatin capsules ✔️
c) Tablets
d) Suppositories
Explanation: Softgel capsules are produced by rotary die encapsulation. - What does IQ in validation stand for?
a) Internal Qualification
b) Installation Qualification ✔️
c) Immediate Quality
d) Inert Quality
Explanation: IQ ensures correct installation of equipment. - Which component acts as a tablet binder?
a) Talc
b) Starch ✔️
c) Magnesium stearate
d) Aerosil
Explanation: Starch can act as a binder to hold ingredients together. - Which process involves separation based on particle size?
a) Extraction
b) Sieving ✔️
c) Compression
d) Coating
Explanation: Sieving separates particles into uniform size ranges. - What is used for sterilizing heat-labile solutions?
a) Hot air oven
b) Membrane filtration ✔️
c) Autoclave
d) Incinerator
Explanation: Filtration sterilizes solutions that cannot withstand heat. - Which instrument measures hardness of tablets?
a) Monsanto tester ✔️
b) Brookfield viscometer
c) UV Spectrophotometer
d) IR Spectrometer
Explanation: Tablet hardness testers evaluate mechanical strength.
🟡 Moderate Level (21–40)
- What is the primary purpose of granulation in tablet formulation?
a) Improve flow and compressibility ✔️
b) Increase bitterness
c) Reduce drying time
d) Change color
Explanation: Granules flow better and compress into strong tablets. - In which process is drug converted into vapor and then condensed?
a) Filtration
b) Evaporation
c) Distillation ✔️
d) Adsorption
Explanation: Distillation purifies liquids based on volatility. - What does DQ stand for in equipment qualification?
a) Drug Quality
b) Design Qualification ✔️
c) Delivery Quotient
d) Density Quotient
Explanation: DQ ensures the design meets user requirements. - Which excipient prevents sticking to tablet punches?
a) Binder
b) Glidant
c) Lubricant ✔️
d) Disintegrant
Explanation: Lubricants reduce friction between the tablet and equipment. - What is the function of a homogenizer in emulsions?
a) Drying
b) Reduce droplet size ✔️
c) Freeze
d) Boil
Explanation: Homogenizers ensure uniform particle or droplet dispersion. - Compression force in tablets affects:
a) Hardness and disintegration ✔️
b) pH only
c) Viscosity only
d) Lubrication only
Explanation: Force impacts tablet density and breakdown time. - Co-milling refers to:
a) Milling with sugar
b) Milling of drug and excipient together ✔️
c) Milling post drying
d) Milling before wetting
Explanation: Co-milling enhances homogeneity and flow. - What is used for semi-solid formulation mixing?
a) Ribbon blender
b) Planetary mixer ✔️
c) Homogenizer
d) Ball mill
Explanation: Planetary mixers are suitable for ointments and creams. - What is lyophilization another name for?
a) Oven drying
b) Freeze drying ✔️
c) Spray drying
d) Vacuum distillation
Explanation: Lyophilization removes water at low temperatures. - The ratio of tablet thickness to diameter is called:
a) Hardness ratio
b) Compression ratio ✔️
c) Moisture ratio
d) Granule ratio
Explanation: Used to monitor uniformity in tablet production. - What is used to evaluate flow properties of powder?
a) Melting point
b) Angle of repose ✔️
c) pH
d) Absorbance
Explanation: Angle of repose gives an estimate of powder flow. - Critical process parameters (CPPs) are identified during:
a) Warehouse validation
b) Process validation ✔️
c) Facility maintenance
d) SOP writing
Explanation: CPPs are essential to control during manufacturing. - Which is a unit operation in tablet manufacturing?
a) Packaging
b) Labeling
c) Compression ✔️
d) Marketing
Explanation: Compression is a critical step in making tablets. - Wet granulation typically uses:
a) Water only
b) Talc
c) Binders in solution ✔️
d) Ethanol as lubricant
Explanation: Binders are added to powders to form granules. - Validation ensures:
a) Higher costs
b) Legal compliance
c) Process reproducibility ✔️
d) Product advertisement
Explanation: Validation confirms a process produces consistent results. - The purpose of vacuum drying is to:
a) Add moisture
b) Remove moisture at low temperature ✔️
c) Increase pressure
d) Freeze product
Explanation: Reduces boiling point of water, protecting heat-sensitive drugs. - Roller compaction is a part of:
a) Dry granulation ✔️
b) Wet granulation
c) Lyophilization
d) Spray drying
Explanation: Roller compaction densifies powder without liquid. - Laminar airflow hoods provide:
a) Heat
b) Sterile airflow ✔️
c) Moisture
d) Gas
Explanation: Used in aseptic processing to protect product from contamination. - Tablets that resist stomach acid are:
a) Sugar-coated
b) Enteric-coated ✔️
c) Sublingual
d) Film-coated
Explanation: Enteric coating dissolves only in the intestine. - Spray drying involves:
a) Wet granulation
b) Atomizing solution into a hot chamber ✔️
c) Lyophilization
d) Milling
Explanation: Used to convert solutions into dry powders rapidly.
🔴 Hard Level (41–50)
- Hot melt extrusion is used for:
a) Solid dispersion formulation ✔️
b) Capsule sealing
c) Lyophilization
d) Distillation
Explanation: It produces solid dispersions to enhance bioavailability. - Real-time release testing (RTRT) replaces:
a) Product recall
b) End-product testing ✔️
c) Visual inspection
d) Validation
Explanation: RTRT ensures quality by monitoring parameters during production. - A sieve number 60 indicates:
a) 60 mm pores
b) 60 openings per inch ✔️
c) 60 minutes use
d) 60 grams retention
Explanation: Indicates fineness of particles passing through the mesh. - Process Analytical Technology (PAT) focuses on:
a) Product labeling
b) Real-time process control ✔️
c) Marketing
d) SOP creation
Explanation: PAT tools monitor and control manufacturing in real-time. - A common disintegrant used in fast disintegrating tablets is:
a) PEG
b) Crospovidone ✔️
c) Talc
d) Lactose
Explanation: Crospovidone swells rapidly to aid tablet breakup. - Effervescent tablets contain:
a) Acid and carbonate ✔️
b) Sugar
c) Lubricant
d) Water
Explanation: They produce CO₂ in contact with water, aiding dissolution. - Process validation stage 3 focuses on:
a) Equipment installation
b) Protocol writing
c) Continued process verification ✔️
d) Raw material testing
Explanation: Ensures ongoing control in commercial manufacturing. - Which coating technique is solvent-free?
a) Compression coating ✔️
b) Film coating
c) Sugar coating
d) Aqueous coating
Explanation: Compression coating involves direct layering without solvents. - Which technology enhances poorly soluble drug absorption?
a) Lyophilization
b) Nanoparticle formulation ✔️
c) Sintering
d) UV coating
Explanation: Nanoparticles improve dissolution and bioavailability. - A validation protocol includes:
a) Only results
b) Only signatures
c) Objectives, methodology, acceptance criteria ✔️
d) Artwork
Explanation: Validation protocols define scope, tests, and outcomes.
