GPAT and Pharmacist exam MCQs: Suspensions (Biphasic Liquid Dosage Forms)

Q1. Which of the following is the most appropriate label instruction for suspensions?

A. Store below 25°C
B. For external use only
C. Shake well before use
D. Protect from light

Answer: C

“Shake well before use” has been asked in direct questions.

Q2. If sedimentation volume (F) = 0.5 and degree of flocculation (β) = 1.5, the sedimentation volume of deflocculated suspension is:

A. 0.75
B. 0.33
C. 0.5
D. 1.0

Answer: B

Concept used
✔ Formula: β = F / F∞ → F∞ = F / β = 0.5 / 1.5

Q3. Flocculated suspensions are characterized by:

A. Slow sedimentation and hard cake formation
B. Rapid sedimentation and easy redispersion
C. No sedimentation
D. Uniform dispersion without settling

Answer: B

Concept: Floccules → loose aggregates, high sedimentation rate

Q4. The stability and shelf life of a suspension are primarily determined by:

A. Colour
B. Sedimentation behavior
C. Odour
D. Taste

Answer: B

Q5. Which of the following dosage forms is most suitable for insoluble drugs?

A. Elixir
B. Syrup
C. Suspension
D. Liniment

Answer: C

Repeated concept: insoluble → suspension

Q6. Which of the following statements is TRUE for suspensions?

A. The drug is completely dissolved
B. Always physically stable
C. Requires shaking before use
D. No sedimentation occurs

Answer: C

Trap: “Ideal vs. real system confusion.”

Q7. (Haryana + GPAT mixed pattern: classification)

Suspensions can be classified based on:

1. Route of administration

2. Particle size

3. Degree of flocculation

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, and 3

Answer: D

Q8. Which of the following leads to caking in suspensions?

A. Flocculation
B. Deflocculation
C. Increased viscosity
D. Use of suspending agent

Answer: B

Concept:
✔ Deflocculated → compact sediment → caking

Q9. A suspension shows slow sedimentation but forms a hard cake. This indicates:

A. Flocculated system
B. Deflocculated system
C. Colloidal system
D. Emulsion

Answer: B

Q10. Which of the following is NOT an advantage of suspensions?

A. Taste masking
B. Suitable for insoluble drugs
C. Uniform dose without shaking
D. Improved stability of some drugs

Answer: C

Q11. The dispersed phase in a pharmaceutical suspension is:

A. Liquid
B. Gas
C. Solid
D. Semi-solid

Correct Answer: C

Q12. Why are suspensions often preferred over solutions for certain drugs?

A. Higher solubility
B. Reduced dose
C. Improved stability of the drug
D. Faster absorption

Answer: C

Q13. Assertion (A): Suspensions require suspending agents.
Reason (R): Suspensions are physically unstable systems.

A. Both A and R are true; R explains A
B. Both true, but R is not an explanation.
C. A true, R false
D. A false, R true

Answer: A

Q14. (GPAT tricky multi-option)

Which of the following is/are characteristics of an ideal suspension?

1. Easy redispersion

2. No sedimentation

3. Uniform dosing

A. 1 and 3 only
B. 1, 2, and 3
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1 only

Answer: A

Trap: “No sedimentation” is impossible

Q15. Which of the following modifications will MOST likely reduce sedimentation rate?

A. Increasing particle size
B. Increasing viscosity of medium
C. Increasing density difference
D. Reducing suspending agent

Answer: B

Trends You MUST Remember

• Label question (Shake well before use) → repeatedly asked

• Flocculated vs deflocculated → most favorite concept

• Sedimentation & stability → GPAT core area

Assertion–Reason & case-based → increasing trend

Dr. Alok Bains

Q16. Which of the following BEST defines a pharmaceutical suspension?

A. Homogeneous solution of the drug in the solvent
B. Biphasic system with solid particles dispersed in a liquid medium
C. Emulsion with two immiscible liquids
D. Colloidal dispersion with particle size <1 nm

Answer: B

Option D looks scientific but describes molecular dispersion, not suspension.
Suspensions mean solid in a liquid biphasic system

Q17. Which statement correctly differentiates biphasic from monophasic liquid dosage forms?

A. Biphasic systems contain dissolved drug
B. Monophasic systems contain dispersed particles
C. Biphasic systems have immiscible phases
D. Monophasic systems are always suspensions

Answer: C

Trap: “dissolved vs dispersed.”
"Biphasic" means two immiscible phases (dispersed + continuous)

Q18.

Assertion (A): Suspensions are suitable for poorly soluble drugs.
Reason (R): Drug remains completely dissolved in the vehicle.

A. Both A and R are true; R explains A
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation
C. A true, R false
D. A false, R true

Answer: C

Students confuse “solubility advantages."
Suspensions are used when the drug is NOT dissolved

Q19. Which of the following is a TRUE advantage of suspensions?

A. Provides a uniform dose without shaking
B. Suitable for unstable drugs in solution
C. Always chemically stable
D. Eliminates the need for preservatives

Answer: B

• A → false (must shake)

• C → false (physically unstable)

  Suspensions improve the stability of unstable drugs.

Q20. Which of the following are advantages of suspensions?

1. Taste masking

2. Accurate dosing without agitation

3. Suitable for insoluble drugs

4. Reduced the sedimentation rate to zero

A. 1 and 3 only
B. 1, 2, and 4
C. 2 and 4 only
D. 1, 3, and 4

Answer: A

• 2 → false (needs shaking)

• 4 → false (sedimentation cannot be zero)

Q21. Which is the MOST critical disadvantage of pharmaceutical suspensions?

A. Rapid drug degradation
B. Physical instability leading to sedimentation
C. High solubility of the drug
D. Excessive clarity

Answer: B

Suspensions are physically unstable systems (sedimentation and caking).

Q22. Caking in suspensions refers to

A. Formation of loose aggregates easily redispersed
B. Formation of hard sediment not easily redispersed
C. Increase in solubility of the drug
D. Conversion into emulsion

Answer: B

Caking means an irreversible sedimentation problem

Q23. Suspensions are classified based on:

A. Route of administration only
B. Particle size only
C. Solid content only
D. All of the above

Answer: D

GPAT integrates multi-basis classification
Includes route, size, and concentration

Q24. In a suspension, the dispersed phase is:

A. Liquid
B. Gas
C. Solid particles
D. Solvent

Answer: C

Suspension means a solid dispersed in a liquid medium

Q25. Which statement regarding suspensions is INCORRECT?

A. Sedimentation rate can be reduced but not eliminated
B. Viscosity increase improves stability
C. Suspensions always show better dose accuracy than solutions
D. Require suspending agents

Answer: C

Solutions > suspensions in dose accuracy

Q26. A drug is bitter, poorly soluble, and unstable in aqueous solutions. Which dosage form is MOST appropriate?

A. Solution
B. Suspension
C. Syrup
D. Elixir

Answer: B
Suspension → taste masking + stability

Q27. The continuous phase in a suspension is also called the

A. Internal phase
B. Dispersed phase
C. Dispersion medium
D. Solute phase

Answer: C
External phase = dispersion medium

Q28. Which of the following is NOT a biphasic liquid dosage form?

A. Suspension
B. Emulsion
C. Solution
D. Colloidal dispersion

Answer: C
Solution = monophasic

Q29. Why are suspensions often supplied as dry powders for reconstitution?

A. To increase solubility
B. To improve chemical stability
C. To reduce viscosity
D. To eliminate preservatives

Answer: B

Stability-based reasoning
Prevents degradation in aqueous medium

Q30. Which factor DOES NOT directly improve suspension stability?

A. Reduction of particle size
B. Increase in viscosity
C. Increasing solubility of the drug
D. Use of suspending agents

Answer: C

Increasing solubility → converts toward solution, not suspension

Takeaway Points (Must Revise)

• Biphasic = dispersed phase + continuous phase

• Suspension = solid in liquid coarse dispersion

• Key advantage → stability + taste masking

• Key disadvantage → physical instability (sedimentation, caking)

• Classification = route + particle size + solid content

Dr. Alok Bains