Name: __________________________________

Yr & Sec:_______________________________
Instructor’s Name:________________________
_________________________

1|PHYSICAL PHARMACY LABORATORY

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

LEARNING TITLE SCORE

ACTIVITY NO.

1 DETERMINATION OF LIQUIDS BY
SPECIFIC GRAVITY

2 DETERMINATION OF SOLIDS BY SPECIFIC

GRAVITY

3 DETERMINATION OF MELTING POINT

4 BUFFER CAPACITY & PH OF

PHARMACEUTICAL BUFFERS

5 DETERMINATION OF SOLUBILITY OF
BORIC ACID IN WATER

6 PARTCLE SIZE DETERMINATION

7 DETERMINATION OF REFRACTIVE INDEX

8 DETERMINATION OF VICOSITY

9 OPTICAL ACTIVITY

10 ALCOHOL DETERMINATION BY SPECIFIC

GRAVITY

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 BASIC RULES AND REGULATIONS IN
THE LABORATORY
 All operations require direct supervision.

 Nothing between the shoulders and the knees will be exposed

in the laboratory.

 It is required that you wear a laboratory gown , the prescribed

laboratory shoes, head cap and hand gloves.

 Some experiment required goggles and proper eye protection

will be worn at all times.

 You will be assigned a working table together with your

group mates.

 Your group will be held responsible for cleaning up after

every experiment.

 The requesting group will be responsible for cleaning up

common areas in the laboratory.

 Read each activity carefully before starting to become

familiar with the experiment procedure and safety
precautions.

 NO food or drink may be brought into the laboratory.

 Be careful with glassware and other equipments. Replacing it

will drive up your budget.

 Know the location of all emergency equipment ( e.g. fire

extinguishers, eye washes and emergency shower) in the
laboratory and be sure that you know how to use it.

 Wash your hands thoroughly after you work in the science

laboratory.

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Name Points Earned
Yr & Sec Date Performed

Learning Activity no. 1

DETERMINATION OF LIQUIDS BY SPECIFIC GRAVITY

Introduction:

Objectives:

1. To determine the use of pycnometer, westphal balance and

hydrometer.
2. To determine the specific gravity by the use of each apparatus.
3. To identify the factors affecting the determination of the specific
gravity.
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Materials and Equipments:

Pycnometer Hot plate

Hydrometer Graduated cylinder
Thermometer Oven
Beaker Dessicator
Stirring rod Rubber cork
Simple syrup Ethyl alcohol
Procedure:

Preparation of syrup U.S.P

1. Weigh 85g sucrose.

2. Dissolve in enough distilled water to make 100ml.
3. Apply gentle heat to facilitate the solution

Use of Pycnometer

Remove cap and the thermometer and clean the

pycnometer .

Weigh the empty pycnometer with the cap and

thermometer.

Fit the thermometer to the pycnometer.

The content is warmed to 25 degree celcius.

Fit the pycnometer with the distilled water and

do the same procedure as with 85% simple
syrup, 95% simple syrup and isopropyl alcohol.

Calculate the specific gravity of the simple syrup

and isopropyl alcohol.

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Set-up for the use of Pycnometer

Use of hydrometer

In a suitable glass container, place the

required volume of simple syrup.

Allow the hydrometer to sink the syrup by

depressing in about 1 inch until the stem is
moistened.

Read the specific gravity of the syrup

directly from the calibration of the
instrument.

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Set-up for the use of Hydrometer:

Use of Westphal Balance

Balance the apparatus in the air.

Suspend the plummet in the

distilled water contained in the
glass cylinder

Dry and clean the plummet and

cylinder, fill the cylinder with the
sample liquid to be determined.

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Set-up for the use of Westphal Balance:

Data and Result:

85% syrup 95% syrup Isopropyl alcohol

Specific gravity
using the
pycnometer

Solution:

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Specific gravity of syrup using hydrometer: ________________

Specific gravity= Density of liquid

_____________
Density of water

Solution:

Question for analysis:

1. Define the following terms:

a. specific gravity

b. apparent specific gravity

c. true specific gravity

Conclusion:

9|PHYSICAL PHARMACY LABORATORY

Name Points Earned
Yr & Sec Date Performed

Learning Activity no. 2

DETERMINATION OF SOLIDS BY SPECIFIC GRAVITY

Introduction:

Objectives:

1. To know the importance of determining the specific gravity of a solid substance.

2. To determine its solubility in other liquids like, benzene, alcohol, oil of
turpentine.
3. To know the difference of determining specific gravity of liquids from solids.

10 | P H Y S I C A L P H A R M A C Y L A B O R A T O R Y
Materials and equipments:

Sample powder (NaHCO3)

Distilled water
Pycnometer
Test tube
Standard liquids (alcohol, benzene, oil of turpentine)

Procedure:

A. Determination of solubility o the sample

In a 1ml of water, place a

corn grain amount of the
sample powder (NaCHO3)

Shake and observe

whether it is soluble or
insoluble.

If SOLUBLE, determine
its solubility in other
liquids like benzene,
alcohol, oil of turpentine

If insoluble, use water as

the standard liquid.

Set-up for the activity: (Illustrate)

11 | P H Y S I C A L P H A R M A C Y L A B O R A T O R Y
 B. Determination of the specific gravity of the solid (powder)

Weigh the empty pycnometer

(including the cap)

Fill it with standard liquid at a

temperature of 25 degree
celcius, stopper in such a way
no air bubbles are formed inside
the bottle. Wipe the outside of
the bottle and weigh.

Clean and dry the pycnometer.

Introduce about 1 grain of the

powder into the pycnometer.
Weigh

Without removing the powder,

fill the pycnometer with the
standard liquid. Wipe the
outside of the bottle and weigh.

Set-up for the activity: (Illustrate)

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Data:

Liquid Solubility

Water

Ethyl alcohol

Benzene

Computation:

Specific gravity= Density of liquid

______________
Density of water

Question for analysis:

1. Why is solubility important in determining the specific gravity?

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 2. Determine the solubility of sodium carbonate using the given solvents.

3. On what other solvents is sodium carbonate soluble?

Conclusion:

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Name Points Earned
Yr & Sec Date Performed

Learning Activity No. 3

DETERMINATION OF MELTING POINT

Introduction:

Objectives:

1. To determine the melting point of the three different substances.

2. To be able to discuss the steps in using melting point apparatus.
3. Determine accurate melting point ranges for a wide variety of
organic substances.
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 Materials and equipments:

Aspirin tablet Melting point apparatus

Ibuprofen tablet Capillary tubes
Paracetamol tablet Mortar and pestle

Procedure:

1. Crush the sample to a fine powder

2. Load the sample separately into a capillary tube. Tap until a column
of about 0.3 cm in length is reached.
3. Heat the bath of the apparatus and place the filled tube in the
corresponding compartments. Perform on Aspirin first then Ibuprofen
and paracetamol.
4. Regulate the temperature control part of the apparatus as necessary
depending on the melting point range of each sample powder.
5. Observe and note the temperature at which the sample becomes
liquid.
6. Record the melting range of each of the samples and compare with the
official requirement.

Set-up for the Activity:

Data:

Melting point range of Capillary method Melting point

Apparatus

Aspirin

Ibuprofen

Paracetamol

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Questions for Analysis:

1. What is the importance of determining the melting point in

drug prescriptions?

2. What is the USP requirement for the melting range of aspirin,

paracetamol, and ibuprofen?

3. Draw the melting point apparatus and label the parts.

Conclusion:

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Name Points Earned
Yr & Sec Date Performed

Learning Activity No. 4

BUFFER CAPACITY AND PH OF PHARMACEUTICAL BUFFERS

Introduction:

Objectives:

1. To define buffer capacity and determine the pH of pharmaceutical

buffers.
2. To know the role and importance of buffer solution in pharmaceutical
preparations.
3. To observe and explain the principle behind the buffer action or
capacity of buffer solution.
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 Materials and equipments:

Beaker Sodium acetate

pH meter Glacial acetic acid
Graduated cylinder 0.1 N Sodium hydroxide
Distilled water 0.1 N HCL

Procedures:

1. Into one beaker marked no. 1, place 25 ml of distilled water and take
the pH.
2. Into another beaker marked no. 2, dissolve 0.2g of sodium acetate in 20
ml of water then add 0.15 ml of glacial acetic acid. Add more water to
make 25 ml. The concentration of the buffer solution is 0.1 mole.
3. Into each of the two beakers, add 1 ml of sodium hydroxide 0.1 N, mix
and take the pH.
4. Repeat procedures no. 1 and no.2, then add 1ml of 0.1 N hydrochloric
acid and take the pH of each.

Set-up for the Activity:

Data:

pH after addition pH after addition of

Initial pH of 0.1 N NaOH 0.1 N HCl

1st beaker: distilled water

2nd beaker: distilled

water sodium acetate
glacial acetic acid

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Question for Analysis:

1. Determine what kind of buffer solution is sodium acetate and glacial

acetic acid.

2. Determine the role of distilled water in the activity.

3. Explain the principle behind the buffer action or capacity of buffer

solution.

4. What is the role of buffer solutions in pharmaceutical preparations?

Conclusion:

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Name Points Earned
Yr & Sec Date Performed

Learning Activity No. 5

DETERMINATION OF SOLUBILITY OF BORIC ACID IN H2O

Introduction:

Objectives:

1. Discern factors that affect the solubility of the substance

2. Relate the significance of solubility in pharmaceutical prepaprations.
3. Verify the solubility of boric acid in H2O.

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Materials and equipments:

Powdered boric acid Evaporating dish

Distilled H2O Water bath
Erlenmeyer flask Oven
Pipette Desiccator
Beaker Thermometer

Procedure:

1. In an Erlenmeyer flask, place about 1.5g of finely powdered Boric

acid & 25ml of distilled water. Cover w/ the cork and shake the
solution vigorously for about 10min. Then set aside for a few minutes.
Repeat the vigorous shaking & set aside for an hour.
2. Allow the undissolved crystals to settle, remove 5ml of the clear the
solution by means of a pipette & transfer to the tared beaker and
weigh accurately.
3. Evaporate this portion of the solution to dryness on a water bath at
80°C & finally to constant weight at 90°C in an oven. Cool in a
dessicator and weigh the residue.
4. Continue shaking the remaining portion for another hour.
5. Again remove another 5ml of the clear solution by means of a pipet &
transfer to another tared beaker and weigh accurately. Determine the
amount of boric acid that it contains in the same manner as before.
6. Express the results as grams of boric acid soluble in 100 ml of water.

Set-up for the Activity:

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 Data and Result:

Weight of beaker + 1st 5mi

Tared weight of the beaker

Weight of the solution

Weight of the beaker + 2nd 5ml solution

Tared weight of the beaker

Weight of the solution

Weight of the beaker + dried residue of the 1st 5ml

Tared weight of the beaker

Weight of boric acid residue

Weight of beaker + the dried residue of the 2nd

5ml

Tared weight of the beaker

Weight of the boric acid residue

Sum of the two weights of the 2 solution

Sum of the 2 weight of boric acid residue

Questions for Analysis:

1. Give the properties, synonyms, chemical formula, and pharmaceutical

use of boric acid.

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 2. To what descriptive term of solubility does boric acid belong? Justify
your answer.

3. Give the factors that affect the solubility of a substance. Explain each
factor.

Conclusion:

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