effervescent salts compounder Interview Questions and Answers

1. What is an effervescent salt?

   • Answer: An effervescent salt is a mixture of an acid and a base that reacts with water to produce carbon dioxide gas, resulting in fizzing or effervescence.

2. What are the common acids used in effervescent salts?

   • Answer: Citric acid and tartaric acid are commonly used.

3. What are the common bases used in effervescent salts?

   • Answer: Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is the most common base.

4. Explain the chemical reaction that occurs in effervescent salts.

   • Answer: The acid (e.g., citric acid) reacts with the base (e.g., sodium bicarbonate) in the presence of water to produce carbon dioxide gas, water, and a salt (e.g., sodium citrate).

5. What are the important factors to consider when compounding effervescent salts?

   • Answer: Particle size of ingredients, accurate weighing, mixing techniques, humidity control, and storage conditions are crucial.

6. Describe the different methods for compounding effervescent salts.

   • Answer: Wet granulation and dry compression are the primary methods. Wet granulation involves mixing the ingredients with a solvent, granulating, and drying, while dry compression directly compresses the powdered mixture.

7. What are the advantages of wet granulation over dry compression?

   • Answer: Wet granulation produces more uniform granules, improves flowability, and reduces dust formation compared to dry compression.

8. What are the disadvantages of wet granulation?

   • Answer: Wet granulation is a more time-consuming process and requires more equipment than dry compression.

9. What are the advantages of dry compression?

   • Answer: Dry compression is faster and simpler than wet granulation, requiring less equipment.

10. What are the disadvantages of dry compression?

    • Answer: Dry compression can lead to less uniform tablets and increased dust formation.

11. How do you ensure accurate weighing of ingredients?

    • Answer: Use calibrated analytical balances, weigh ingredients multiple times, and follow good weighing practices.

12. What is the importance of particle size in effervescent salt compounding?

    • Answer: Uniform particle size ensures consistent reaction rates and tablet properties.

13. How do you control humidity during the compounding process?

    • Answer: Use a controlled environment with low humidity, or use desiccant to absorb moisture.

14. What are the quality control measures you would implement?

    • Answer: Weight variation, disintegration time, friability, and effervescence testing are crucial quality control measures.

15. How do you ensure the stability of effervescent salts?

    • Answer: Proper storage in airtight containers in a cool, dry place is essential to prevent degradation.

16. What are the common excipients used in effervescent salts and their purpose?

    • Answer: Examples include lubricants (magnesium stearate), binders (polyvinylpyrrolidone), and diluents (lactose). Their purpose is to improve the flow, compressibility, and stability of the formulation.

17. What are the potential problems that can occur during compounding?

    • Answer: Premature reaction, sticking of granules, poor flow, and insufficient effervescence are potential problems.

18. How would you troubleshoot premature reaction?

    • Answer: By lowering the temperature, reducing mixing time, or using a different method (e.g., dry compression instead of wet granulation).

19. How would you troubleshoot sticking of granules?

    • Answer: Adjust the drying process, use a different lubricant, or reduce the moisture content.

20. How would you troubleshoot poor flow?

    • Answer: Use a glidant (e.g., colloidal silicon dioxide), improve the granulation process, or use a different lubricant.

21. How would you troubleshoot insufficient effervescence?

    • Answer: Check the weight of ingredients, ensure proper mixing, and verify the quality of the ingredients.

22. What safety precautions should be taken when compounding effervescent salts?

    • Answer: Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), handle chemicals carefully, and work in a well-ventilated area.

23. What is the role of a compounder in ensuring patient safety?

    • Answer: Accuracy in weighing, proper compounding techniques, quality control measures, and adherence to standard operating procedures are crucial for patient safety.

24. Describe your experience with different types of effervescent tablets.

    • Answer: [Candidate should detail their experience with different formulations and their challenges]

25. What are the regulatory requirements for compounding effervescent salts?

    • Answer: [Candidate should describe relevant regulations based on their geographic location, including GMP guidelines and relevant pharmacopoeia standards]

26. Explain your understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in the context of effervescent salt compounding.

    • Answer: [Candidate should detail their knowledge of GMP, including sanitation, documentation, quality control, and personnel training.]

27. How would you handle a situation where a batch of effervescent salts fails quality control testing?

    • Answer: Investigate the root cause, quarantine the batch, document findings, and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

28. What are your strengths and weaknesses as a compounder?

    • Answer: [Candidate should provide specific examples]

29. Why are you interested in this position?

    • Answer: [Candidate should demonstrate genuine interest and connect their skills to the job requirements]

30. Where do you see yourself in five years?

    • Answer: [Candidate should display ambition and a career path aligned with the role]

31. What is your salary expectation?

    • Answer: [Candidate should provide a realistic salary range]

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