Pharmaceutical Analysis MCQ: 30 Best Free Questions With Answers

Table of Contents

Pharmaceutical analysis MCQ questions cover two parts: classical titrations and instrumental methods such as UV, IR, HPLC and chromatography. This quiz has 30 questions that test both, along with basic terms like accuracy, precision and limit of detection.

It is useful for D.Pharm, B.Pharm and GPAT preparation, and for anyone who wants to work in a quality control lab.

Start the Pharmaceutical Analysis MCQ quiz

There are 30 questions with four options each. Try to finish without looking at your notes, then use the explanations further down to fix your weak spots.

Pharmacy Quiz 10 - Pharmaceutical Analysis

1 / 30

The Beer-Lambert law relates absorbance to

Temperature only

pH only

Density only

Concentration and path length

2 / 30

The ultraviolet region of the spectrum lies between

400 to 800 nm

1 to 10 nm

200 to 400 nm

800 to 2500 nm

3 / 30

The visible region of the spectrum lies between

1000 to 2000 nm

10 to 200 nm

200 to 400 nm

400 to 800 nm

4 / 30

The fingerprint region of an IR spectrum lies between

1500 and 400 cm-1

3000 and 2500 cm-1

4000 and 3000 cm-1

2000 and 1800 cm-1

5 / 30

IR spectroscopy is mainly used to identify

Molecular weight only

Optical rotation

Functional groups

Melting point

6 / 30

NMR spectroscopy uses

Ultraviolet light only

X-rays

Radiofrequency radiation in a magnetic field

Gamma rays

7 / 30

Mass spectrometry measures the

Refractive index

pH of a solution

Absorbance of light

Mass-to-charge ratio of ions

8 / 30

In HPLC the mobile phase is delivered by a

Vacuum cleaner

High-pressure pump

Gravity flow

Hand syringe only

9 / 30

A commonly used detector in HPLC is the

Flame ionisation detector

UV-visible detector

Geiger counter

Thermometer

10 / 30

The mobile phase in gas chromatography is an

Aqueous buffer

Chloroform

Methanol

Inert carrier gas such as helium or nitrogen

11 / 30

The commonly used stationary phase in TLC is

Sodium chloride

Water only

Mercury

Silica gel

12 / 30

The Rf value is the

Volume of solvent used

Distance travelled by solute divided by distance travelled by solvent front

Time taken by the solute

Distance of solvent divided by distance of solute

13 / 30

The Rf value always lies between

1 and 10

100 and 1000

10 and 100

0 and 1

14 / 30

Paper chromatography is based mainly on

Size exclusion only

Affinity binding

Partition

Ion exchange

15 / 30

A suitable indicator for titration of a strong acid with a strong base is

Potassium chromate

Phenolphthalein

Starch

Eriochrome Black T

16 / 30

Starch is used as an indicator in

Acid-base titrations

Iodometric titrations

Mohr's titrations

Complexometric titrations

17 / 30

EDTA titrations are examples of

Complexometric titrations

Non-aqueous titrations

Redox titrations

Acid-base titrations

18 / 30

Eriochrome Black T is used as an indicator in

Argentometry

Iodometry

Complexometric titration for water hardness

Acidimetry

19 / 30

Potassium chromate is the indicator used in

Mohr's method

Acid-base titration

Volhard's method

Iodometry

20 / 30

Perchloric acid in glacial acetic acid is used to titrate

Neutral salts

Oils

Strong acids

Weak bases

21 / 30

Potassium permanganate titration is a

Acid-base titration

Precipitation titration

Redox titration

Complexometric titration

22 / 30

Normality is defined as the number of

Parts per million

Grams per 100 mL

Moles per kg of solvent

Gram equivalents of solute per litre of solution

23 / 30

Molarity is defined as the number of

Grams per mL

Moles per kg of solvent

Grams per 100 mL

Moles of solute per litre of solution

24 / 30

A standard solution is a solution

That is saturated

That is very dilute

Kept at 25 C

Of accurately known concentration

25 / 30

Which of these is a primary standard?

Potassium hydrogen phthalate

Potassium permanganate

Hydrochloric acid

Sodium hydroxide

26 / 30

Accuracy of an analytical method refers to the

Speed of analysis

Closeness of the result to the true value

Reproducibility of results

Sensitivity of the method

27 / 30

Precision of an analytical method refers to the

Closeness to the true value

Closeness of repeated measurements to each other

Colour of the end point

Cost of the method

28 / 30

The limit of detection (LOD) is the

Average of all readings

Lowest amount of analyte that can be detected

Amount lost in analysis

Highest amount that can be measured

29 / 30

Polarimetry is used to measure

Refractive index

Viscosity

Density

Optical rotation

30 / 30

The electrode commonly used in a pH meter is the

Platinum wire

Glass electrode

Carbon rod

Silver rod

Your score is

The average score is 0%

How Pharmaceutical Analysis is asked in exams

Analysis is a subject where understanding helps more than memory. If you know why starch is used in iodometry or why NaOH is not a primary standard, you can answer many variations of the same question. Students lose marks mainly in indicators, wavelength ranges and chromatography terms, so these are the areas to revise with care.

Pharmaceutical Analysis MCQ mistakes students make, and the logic behind them

These are the questions from the set above that students most often get wrong, with the reason behind each answer.

What does the Beer-Lambert law relate absorbance to?
Answer: Concentration and path length. Absorbance increases in direct proportion to both.
What is the Rf value and what is its range?
Answer: Distance travelled by solute divided by distance travelled by solvent front; it lies between 0 and 1. It can never be more than 1 because the solute cannot move farther than the solvent.
Which indicator is used in iodometric titrations?
Answer: Starch. Eriochrome Black T is for complexometric titrations such as water hardness, and potassium chromate is used in Mohr’s method.
What does perchloric acid in glacial acetic acid titrate?
Answer: Weak bases, in non-aqueous titration. Weak bases do not give sharp end points in water.
Which of these is a primary standard?
Answer: Potassium hydrogen phthalate. Sodium hydroxide absorbs moisture and carbon dioxide, so it is not stable enough.

Quick revision points for Pharmaceutical Analysis

The ultraviolet region is 200 to 400 nm and the visible region is 400 to 800 nm.
The fingerprint region of an IR spectrum lies between 1500 and 400 cm-1, and IR is mainly used to identify functional groups.
NMR uses radiofrequency radiation in a magnetic field, and mass spectrometry measures the mass-to-charge ratio of ions.
HPLC uses a high-pressure pump, gas chromatography uses an inert carrier gas, and TLC commonly uses silica gel.
Accuracy is closeness to the true value, precision is closeness of repeated results, and LOD is the lowest amount that can be detected.
A pH meter uses a glass electrode, and polarimetry measures optical rotation.

A simple way to learn from your mistakes

Make a table of titrations with four columns: type of titration, example, indicator and use. Fill it from your notes and check it against the answers you missed in this pharmaceutical analysis MCQ quiz. Also keep one page for wavelength and wavenumber ranges. These two pages cover a large part of the MCQs.

Frequently asked questions about pharmaceutical analysis MCQ

Is pharmaceutical analysis difficult?

It is easy if you understand the principle behind each method. Rote learning without understanding often leads to mistakes in indicators and ranges.

What topics are asked most often?

Titrations, indicators, UV and IR spectroscopy, chromatography and validation terms such as accuracy and precision.

Is this quiz good for GPAT?

It covers the basic level of analytical chemistry that forms the base for GPAT questions.

Keep practising

If this pharmaceutical analysis MCQ set felt comfortable, move on to the next subject. These pages will help:

For official syllabus details and regulations, refer to Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission and Pharmacy Council of India.

Written by the Noteskarts pharmacy education team. This quiz is for exam practice and learning only; always check your latest syllabus and standard textbooks for final answers.