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 is the role of an emulsifier (emulgent)?

To grind solids
To increase the viscosity of a liquid
To keep liquid droplets dispersed throughout the liquid vehicle
To sterilize surfaces

The correct answer is: To keep liquid droplets dispersed throughout the liquid vehicle

An emulsifier, also known as an emulgent, is a substance that helps to create and maintain a stable emulsion. An emulsion is a mixture of two or more immiscible liquids, such as oil and water, that are dispersed throughout each other. Therefore, the role of an emulsifier is to keep these liquid droplets dispersed throughout the liquid vehicle, preventing them from separating and maintaining a uniform consistency. Option A is incorrect because the role of an emulsifier is not to grind solids. Option B is incorrect because the role of an emulsifier is not to increase the viscosity of a liquid. Option D is incorrect because the role of an emulsifier is not to sterilize surfaces. These functions are performed by other substances and are not related to emulsifiers.