A list of interview questions and answers for pharma jobs -Production

Some General Question and Answer-

1.Define Tablet?

-Tablet is a solid dosage form prepared by a combination of API and Excipients by

application of pressure.

2.What is API?

-API stands for Active pharmaceutical ingredient.

API is a substance that gives pharmacological effects.

3.What is Excipient?

-Inert materials which do not give any pharmacological effect.

Classification of Excipients for Solid Dosage form

• Diluents
• Binders
• Disintegrants
• Glidents
• Lubricants
• Colourants
• Flavours

4.what are Test of Tablet?

-Tests for Tablet

• Weight variation
• Thickness
• Hardness
• Friability
 • Disintegration
• Dissolution
• Assay
• Content uniformity

5.what are Defects of Tablet?

• Capping
• Lamination
• Sticking
• Picking
• Weight Variation

6.What is Disintegration?

-The time needed for tablet or capsule to break down into particles which pass
through # 10 mesh and no solid mass is left.

7.What is Disintegration Time of Capsules, Uncoated tablet, Film-coated tablets and

Sugar-coated tablets?

-30 Min, Not more than 15 minutes, Not more than 30 minutes and Not more than 60
minutes respectively.

8.What is Disintegration Time of Enteric-coated table?

-Tablets which have Enteric-coating should not disintegrate for 2 hours in acidic
media and then these tablets when placed in basic media should disintegrate within 1
hour.

9.What is the limit of friability?

-Not more than 1%.

10. What are type coating and defects of coating?
Types of coating
1. Film Coating
2. Enteric Coating
3. Sugar Coating

Defects of Coating
• Sticking
• Color variation
• Orange peel effect
• logo filling
• chipping

11.What is HVAC system?

Heating Ventilation and Air conditioning system.

Functions Of HVAC

• Prevent cross-contamination.
• Maintain Temperature
• Maintain Humidity
• Create Differential Pressure
• Maintain Air Changes

12.Types of capsules?

• Hard Gelatin Capsule

• Soft Gelatin Capsule

13.Revolution of Friability?
-25 rpm per minute and run-time is 4 minutes.
14.Name of 3 Natural binders?
• Starch
 • Cellulose
• Gelatin
15.Name of Synthetic Binder?
-PVP k 30 or kollidon, povidone.
16.Why do we manufacture granules?

Granules are prepared for tablet compression because of the following main reasons.
• To enhance flow because powders flow is poor.
• To prevent weight variation.
• To reduce dusty environment because powders are dustier.
• To prevent segregation.
• To improve content uniformity.
• To improve compaction.
• Powders are elastic so tend to cap but granules are plastic so prevent
tablet capping.

17.What is a rat hole?

-Rathole is a powder flow defect in which powder adheres to the walls of

compression machine hopper or blender walls and stops the flow against walls
creating a hole in the middle. It results in weight variation and fragile tablets during
compression.

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 Some Important Question and Answer-

Q1. Why used opacifier in Tablet coating?

- Opacifier is used to make the ensuring system opaque, given excellent heat insulation
when compacted under pressure.

Q2. What are the commonly used opacifiers?

- Titanium dioxide, Aluminum hydroxide, Aluminum silicate.

Q3. Which excipients are used in Enteric coated tablet?

- CAP, PVAP, Kollicoat, Eudragit etc.

Q4. Is Enteric coating is pH dependent?

- Yes, enteric coating is pH dependent.

Q5. What is Kollicoat?

- Methacrylic acid Ethyl Acrylate Copolymer (1:1)

Q6. What types of Kollicoat available for coating?

- Kollicoat IR, Kollicoat SR 30D, Kollicoat MAE 100P, Kollicoat 30DP

Q7. What are the common problems of Tableting?

- Capping, Lamination, Cracking, Low Hardness, More DT, Low Dissolution Rate.

Q8. How can overcome the low hardness problem of a Tablet?

- Increasing binder amount, changing diluent type etc.

Q9. Why Plasticizer used in coating solution?

 - To increase the plasticity and flexibility.
- To reduce the glass transition temperature (Tg) facilitating transition.

Q10. What are the commonly used plasticizers in coating solution?

- Castor oil, Glycerin, PEG 1000, PEG 1450, PEG 3350.

Q11. Why is Mg-stearate added in the last stage before compression?

- Mg-Stearate is added at the last stage of mixing (before compression) due to prevent
the adversely effect on compressibility and dissolution characteristics.

Q12. What type of measurement should be taken for hygroscopic material?

- Relative humidity should be under control (<45%).

- Wet granulation should be omitted.

Q13. Which RH is preferable for Clavulanic acid combination product?

- NMT 30%

Q14. Which parameter should be checked after granulation?

- Assay, Granule size, Granules flowability etc.

Q15. What is the mechanism of sodium perborate (preservative)?

- Sodium perborate undergoes hydrolysis in contact with water, producing hydrogen

peroxide and borate. It serves as a source of active oxygen.

Q16. Why Methylparaben and Propylparaben used in combination (9:1)?

- They show synergistic effect with each other.

 Q17. Why ophthalmic preparation should be sterile?

- To ensure the safety regarding microbial growth.

Q18. What is the difference between RMG and Mass Mixer?

- RMG is very fast and precise to mix effectively.

Q19. Which parameter should be checked after granulation?

- Assay, Granule size, Granules flowability etc.

Q20. What is the mechanism of sodium perborate (preservative)?

- Sodium perborate undergoes hydrolysis in contact with water, producing hydrogen

peroxide and borate. It serves as a source of active oxygen.

Q21. Why Methylparaben and Propylparaben used in combination (9:1)?

- They show synergistic effect with each other.

Q22. Why ophthalmic preparation should be sterile?

- To ensure the safety regarding microbial growth.

Q23. What is the difference between RMG and Mass Mixer?

- RMG is very fast and precise to mix effectively.

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