Basic Pharmaceutics for NTS Tests (Complete)

1. Melting point and heat of fusion. The melting point of a solid is the temperature at
which the solid is transformed to a liquid. When 1 g of a solid is heated and melts, the
heat absorbed in the process is referred to as the latent heat of fusion.
2. A solution is a homogeneous system in which a solute is molecularly dispersed, or
dissolved, in a solvent. The solvent is the predominant species.
3. Saturated solutions are solutions that, at a given temperature and pressure, contain the
maximum amount of solute that can be accommodated by the solvent. If the saturation,
or solubility, limit is exceeded, a fraction of the solute can separate from the solution
and exist in equilibrium with it.
4. Solutes can be gases, liquids, or solids, and nonelectrolytes or electrolytes.
5. Nonelectrolytes are substances that do not form ions when dissolved in water.
6. Nonelectrolytes are
 estradiol,
 glycerin,
 urea,
 Sucrose.
7. Strong electrolytes (e.g., sodium chloride, hydrochloric acid) are completely ionized in
water at all concentrations.
8. Weak electrolytes (e.g., aspirin, atropine) are partially ionized in water.
9. The colligative properties of a solution depend on the total number of ionic and
nonionic solute molecules in the solution. These properties depend on ionization but
are independent of other chemical properties of the solute.
10. Colligative properties include the following:
 Lowering of vapor pressure
 Elevation of the boiling point
 Depression of the freezing point
 Osmotic pressure
11. . The vapor pressure is the pressure at which equilibrium is established between the
molecules of A in the liquid state and the molecules of A in the gaseous (vapor) state in
a closed, evacuated container. The vapor pressure is temperature dependent, but
independent of the amount of liquid and vapor.
12. The boiling point is the temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid equals an
external pressure of 760 mm Hg. (DDC Test)
13. A solution of a nonvolatile solute has a higher boiling point than a pure solvent
because the solute lowers the vapor pressure of the solvent. (Pharmacist test)
14. Kb is the molal boiling point elevation constant.
15. The freezing point, or melting point, of a pure compound is the temperature at which
the solid and the liquid phases are in equilibrium under a p ressure of 1 atmosphere
(atm).
16. Osmotic pressure is the pressure that must be applied to the solution to prevent the
flow of pure solvent into the concentrated solution.
17. Buffer action is the resistance to a change in pH.
18. Buffer capacity is the ability of a buffer solution to resist changes in pH.
19. The smaller the pH change caused by addition of a given amount of acid or base, the
greater the buffer capacity of the solution.
20. A suspension is a two-phase system that is composed of a solid material dispersed in an
oily or aqueous liquid. The particle size of the dispersed solid is usually 0.5micometer.
21. An emulsion is a heterogeneous system that consists of at least one immiscible liquid
that is intimately dispersed in another in the form of droplets. The droplet diameter
usually exceeds 0.1 micrometer.
22. Problems with stability can determine whether a given formulation is accepted or
rejected. (NTS MCQ)
23. The decomposition of active ingredients in a dosage form occurs through several
pathways. (e.g., hydrolysis, oxidation, photolysis)
24. Hydrolysis is the most common type of degradation because many medicinal
compounds are esters, amides, or lactams.
25. H and OH are the most common catalysts of hydrolytic degradation in solution.
26. Esters usually undergo hydrolytic reactions that cause drug instability. Because esters
are rapidly degraded in aqueous solution, formulators are reluctant to incorporate drugs
that have ester functional groups into liquid dosage forms.
27. Commonly used antioxidants include
 ascorbic acid,
 butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA),
 butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT),
 propyl gallate,
 sodium bisulfite,
 sodium sulfite,
 tocopherols.
28. The shelf life of a drug preparation is the amount of time that the product can be stored
before it becomes unfit for use, through either chemical decomposition or physical
deterioration.
29. Water is the most commonly used vehicle for drug solutions. The USP recognizes
seven types of water for the preparation of dosage forms.
30. Purified water USP is water obtained by distillation, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, or
other suitable treatment.
31. Traditionally, the alcohol content of elixirs has varied from 5% to 40%
32. Elixirs are not the preferred vehicle for salts because alcohol accentuates saline taste.
Salts also have limited solubility in alcohol. Therefore, the alcoholic content of salt-
containing elixirs must be low.
33. Aromatic elixir NF contains approximately 22% alcohol.
34. Iso-alcoholic elixir is a combination of low-alcoholic elixir, an elixir with low alcoholic
content (8% to 10% alcohol), and high-alcoholic elixir, an elixir with high alcoholic
content (73% to 78% alcohol).
35. Aromatic waters are clear, saturated aqueous solutions of volatile oils or other aromatic
or volatile substances.
36. Distillation is a universal method. It is the only method, however, for preparing strong
rose water and orange flower water.
37. Dispersant (e.g., talc)
38. Spirits, or essences, are alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solutions of volatile substances that
contain 50% to 90% alcohol.
39. Tinctures are alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solutions of chemicals or soluble constituents
of vegetable drugs.
40. Fluid extracts are liquid extracts of vegetable drugs that contain alcohol as a solvent,
preservative, or both.
41. Mouthwashes are solutions that are used to cleanse the mouth or treat diseases of the
oral mucous membrane. They often contain alcohol or glycerin to aid in dissolving the
volatile ingredients.
42. Astringents are locally applied solutions that precipitate protein. They reduce cell
permeability without causing injury. Astringents cause constriction, with wrinkling and
blanching of the skin. Because astringents reduce secretions, they can be used as
antiperspirants.
43. Aluminum acetate and aluminum subacetate solutions are used as wet dressings in
contact dermatitis. The precipitation is minimized by the addition of boric acid.
44. Calcium hydroxide solution is a mild stringent that is used in lotions as a reactant and
an alkalizer.
45. Antibacterial topical solutions (e.g., benzalkonium chloride, strong iodine, povidone–
iodine) kill bacteria when applied to the skin or mucous membrane in the proper
strength and under appropriate conditions.
46. Drug degradation in suspension or solid dosage forms occurs much more slowly than
degradation in solution form.
47. Carboxymethylcellulose is an anionic material that is soluble in water and is usually
used to increase viscosity.
48. The liquid droplet is known as the dispersed, internal, or discontinuous phase.
49. The other liquid is known as the dispersion medium, external phase, or continuous
phase.
50. Methyl cellulose is nonionic and induces viscosity.
51. The sorbitan esters known as Spans are hydrophobic in nature and form w/o
emulsions.
52. T e polysorbates known as Tweens are hydrophilic and tend to form o/w emulsions.
53. Wet gum (English) method
54. Dry gum (continental) method
55. Cold cream is a w/o emulsion.
56. Vanishing cream is an o/w emulsion.
57. Witepsol bases contain natural saturated fatty acid chains between C12 and C18. Lauric
acid is the major component. All 12 bases of this series are colorless and almost
odorless.
58. Trituration. The substance is reduced to small particles by rubbing it in a mortar with a
pestle. Trituration also describes the process by which fine powders are intimately
mixed in a mortar.
59. Pulverization by intervention. Substances are reduced and subdivided with an
additional material (i.e., solvent) that is easily removed after pulverization. This
technique is oft en used with gummy substances that reagglomerate or resist grinding.
For example, camphor is readily reduced after a small amount of alcohol or other
volatile solvent is added. The solvent is then permitted to evaporate.
60. Levigation. The particle size of the substance is reduced by adding a suitable nonsolvent
(levigating agent) to form a paste. The paste is then rubbed in a mortar and pestle or
using an ointment slab and spatula. This method is oft en used to prevent a gritty feel
 when solids are incorporated into dermatologic or ophthalmic ointments and
suspensions.
61. Mineral oil is a common levigating agent.
62. Sifting. Powders are mixed by passing them through sifters similar to those used to
sift flour. This process results in a light, fluff y product. Usually, it is not acceptable for
incorporating potent drugs into a diluent base.
63. Tumbling is the process of mixing powders in a large container rotated by a motorized
process. These blenders are widely used in industry, as are large-volume powder mixers
that use motorized blades to blend the powder in a large mixing vessel.
64. Powder papers can be of any convenient size that fits the required dose. Four basic
types are used:
 Vegetable parchment is a thin, semiopaque, moisture-resistant paper.
 White bond is an opaque paper that has no moisture-resistant properties.
 Glassine is a glazed, transparent, moisture-resistant paper.
 Waxed paper is a transparent waterproof paper.
65. Empty capsules are numbered from 000, which is the largest size that can be
swallowed, to 5, the smallest size. The approximate capacity of capsules ranges from
600 to 30 mg for capsules from 000 to 5, respectively.
66. Soft gelatin capsules are usually prepared by the plate process or by the rotary or
reciprocating die process.
67. Lubricants reduce the friction that occurs between the walls of the tablet and the walls
of the die cavity when the tablet is ejected. Talc, magnesium stearate, and calcium
stearate are commonly used.
68. Antiadherents reduce sticking, or adhesion, of the tablet granulation or powder to the
faces of the punches or the die walls.
69. Glidants promote the flow of the tablet granulation or powder by reducing friction
among particles.
70. Artificial sweeteners, like flavors, are typically used only with chewable tablets or
tablets that are intended to dissolve in the mouth.
 Some sweetness may come from the diluent (e.g., mannitol, lactose). Other
agents (e.g., saccharin, aspartame) may also be added.
 Saccharin has an unpleasant aftertaste.
 Aspartame is not stable in the presence of moisture and heat.
71. Common disintegrants include:
 cornstarch and potato starch,
 starch derivatives (e.g., sodium starch glycolate),
 cellulose derivatives (e.g., sodium carboxymethylcellulose, croscarmellose
sodium),
 Clays (e.g., Veegum, bentonite), and cation exchange resins.
72. Capping: is the partial or complete separation of the top or bottom crown from the
main body of the tablet.
73. Lamination: is separation of a tablet into two or more distinct layers. Th ese problems
are usually caused by entrapment of air during processing.
74. Picking: is removal of the surface material of a tablet by a punch.
75. Sticking: is adhesion of tablet material to a die wall. These problems are caused by
excessive moisture or the inclusion of substances with low melting temperatures in the
formulation. c.
76. Mottling: is unequal color distribution, with light or dark areas standing out on an
otherwise uniform surface. This problem occurs when a drug has a different color than
the tablet excipients or when a drug has colored degradation products. Colorants solve
the problem but can create other problems.
77. Facilitated diffusion : is also a carrier-mediated transport system. However, facilitated
diffusion occurs with (i.e., in the direction of) a concentration gradient and does not
require energy.
78. Polymorphism is the ability of a drug to exist in more than one crystalline form.
79. Relative bioavailability (RBA) is the systemic availability of the drug from a dosage form
as compared to a reference standard given by the same route of administration
80. Bioavailability studies are performed : for both approved active drug ingredients and
therapeutic moieties not yet approved for marketing by the FDA
81. Biopharmaceutics is the science that examines this interrelationship of the
physicochemical properties of the drug, the dosage form in which the drug is given, and
the route of administration on the rate and extent of systemic drug absorption.
82. Molarity (M) is the expression of the number of moles of solute dissolved per liter of
solution. It is calculated by dividing the moles of solute by the volume of solution in
liters.
83. The normality (N) of a solution is the number of gram-equivalent weights (equivalents)
of solute per liter of solution.
84. Molality (m) is the moles of solute dissolved per kilogram of solvent.
85. Pharmacokinetics is the study of the time course of drug movement in the body during
absorption, distribution, and elimination (excretion and biotransformation).
86. Pharmacodynamics is the study of the relation of the drug concentration or amount at
the site of action (receptor) and its pharmacologic response as a function of time.
87. Facilitated diffusion is also a carrier-mediated transport system. However, facilitated
diffusion occurs with (i.e., in the direction of) a concentration gradient and does not
require energy.
88. The Noyes–Whitney equation describes the rate at which a solid drug dissolves.
89. Fick’s law is similar to the Noyes–Whitney equation in that both equations describe
drug movement caused by a concentration gradient. Fick’s law generally refers to
passive diffusion, or passive transport, of drugs.
90. The law of mass action describes the rate of a chemical reaction,
91. The Michaelis–Menten equation involves enzyme kinetics.
92. The Henderson–Hasselbalch equation gives the pH of a buffer solution.