NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) Practice Exam

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Study for the NAPLEX exam with a comprehensive quiz featuring multiple-choice questions and in-depth explanations. Build your pharmacological knowledge and increase your chances of passing the pharmacist licensure examination!

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What HLB number range is more suitable for oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions?

<10
>10
5-10
None; HLB not applicable to o/w emulsions

The correct answer is: >10

Oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions are stabilized by surfactants with a Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) value typically greater than 10. Surfactants with higher HLB values are more hydrophilic, meaning they have an affinity for water, making them suitable for stabilizing the oil droplets in an o/w emulsion. Lower HLB values are more suitable for water-in-oil (w/o) emulsions where the surfactant has a higher affinity for oil. Therefore, option B (>10) is the correct answer as it indicates the more suitable HLB range for oil-in-water emulsions.