• Gram = Specific gravity * ml

1) How many grams of chemical are required to make 120 ml of a 20% w/w of solution of a
sp. gravity 1.15?
Ans. Weight of solution = 120 ml * 1.15 = 138 gm
20 gm in 100 gm
X ---- in 138 gm
X = 138*20/100 = 27.6 gm

• C1V1 = C2V2
• NaCl Equivalent (E) = 0.23, it means 1 gm of the drug = 0.23 gm NaCl

Pharmacy manager provided you ZnCl2 0.7%, phenylephrine 0.1% and boric acid 1.1% with E
values 0.16, 0.32 and 0.5 respectively. Is solution hypertonic, isotonic, hypotonic
Ans. 0.7*0.16 + 0.1*0.32 + 1.1*0.5 = 0.69. Isotonic solution should be 0.9; thus it is hypotonic.

Rx. Tetracaine 1 %
Boric acid 0.5%
Water qs 100% dispense 60 ml ophthalmic solution.
How many mg of NaCl is needed to adjust the isotonicity of this solution?
(E values are 0.18 for tetracaine and 0.5 for boric acid)
Tetracaine: 1 gm in 100 ml, so in 60 ml there is 0.6 gm
Boric acid: 0.5 gm in 100 ml, so in 60 ml there is 0.3 gm

Equivalence = 0.6*0.18 + 0.3*0.5 = 0.258

0.9% NaCl means in 60 ml there is 0.54 gm Nacl
so we need to add = 0.54 – 0.258 = 282 gm NaCl

• Sensitivity requirement = weight * error %

What is the minimum quantity that can be weight on a balance with sensitivity requirements
of 15 mg of a 5% error is permissible
Ans. SR = weight * Error%
Weight = 15 mg/5% = 300 mg

• Kg = 2.2 lb
• Density = weight/volume
• %w/w = [(wt of solute/(wt of solute + wt of solvent)]x100%

100 ml of 5% w/v of Diclofenac in ethanol was added to 150 ml of ethanol. Density of ethanol
is 0.8. What is the % w/w of Diclofenac gel in alcohol will be ?
Ans. 100 ml + 150 ml = 250 ml
weight = density * volume = 250*0.8 = 200 gm

So %W/w =100* 5/(5 +200) = 100*5/205 = 2.44 % w/w

 • 1 gallon = 3840 ml = 4 Quart = 8 pint
• Quart = 960 ml = 2 pint
• I pint = 480 ml
• 16 ounce = 480 ml = 1 pint
• Ounce= 30 ml
• Allegation Calculations:

A physician requests that an elixir containing 32% alcohol be prepared, how much low alcohol
elixir (10% alcohol) and high alcohol elixir 78% must be mixed to prepare 1 pint of re-quested
elixir.
Ans.

10% alcohol = 46*473 ml / 68 = 320 ml

78% alcohol = 22*473 / 68 = 153 ml

How many mL of a syrup having a specific gravity of 1.350 should be mixed with 3000 mL of a
syrup having a specific gravity of 1.250 to obtain a product having a specific gravity of 1.310?
Ans.

X= 3000*0.06/0.04 = 4500 ml

• mEq= (Mg* Valence)/Molecular weight

• Mg = (mEq * Molecular weight) /valence
• Mmol = dose in mg/molecular weight = mEq/Valence (if valence 1, mmol = mEq. If valence
2, mEq double mmol)
• Valence: Na, K, Li = 1. Ca, Mg = 2. Al =3
+
What is weight of KCl in mg is needed to provide 109 mEq of K ? (MW 74.5).
Mg = (mEq * MW)/Valence = 109*74.5/1 = 8120 mg
 • Molecular weight = sum of atomic numbers

Ex. Atomic numbers are Na 23, H 1, C 12, O 16.

NaHco3 molecular weight = 23 + 1 + 12 + (16*3) = 84

How many meq of K are present in 750 mg of KCl capsule ? (K=39, Cl= 35.5)
Ans. Molecular weight= 39+35.5= 74.5

mEq= mg*valence / Mw = 750*1/74.5 = 10.06

• Megaunit = 1,000,000 unit

• Ration strength 1:400 = 1 gm in 400 ml

Calcium Hydroxide Topical Solution contains 170 mg of calcium hydroxide per 100 mL at 15º C.
Express this concentration as ratio strength.
170 mg in 100 ml means 0.17 gm in 100 ml means 1 gm in 588 ml = 1:588
0.693
• Rate of infusion = Css * CL = Css * Vd * Kel = Css * Vd * 𝑇1
2
• Vd = Dose/conc. = Dose/initial concentration

40 year old patient who weighs 70 kg, needs intravenous infusion of amoxicillin. The
desired Css of drug is 15 mg/dL. The physician ordered antibiotic infused for 10 hours.
Amoxicillin has t1/2 = 1 hour and Vd = 9L. What rate of iv is recommended for this patient?
0.693
Ans. Rate of infusion = Css * Vd * 𝑇1 = 150 mg/L *9*0.693/1 = 936 mg/Hr
2

• Fluid ounce (fl oz) = 30 ml

Kg = 2.2 Pound
16 ounce (OZ) = 1 pound
• Grain = 65 mg

How many teaspoonfuls would be prescribed in each dose of a drug of fluidounce VI

contained 16 doses?
Fluid once = 30 ml

VI fluid ounce = 6*30 = 180 ml

180 ml for 16 doses, means each dose has 11.25 ml

11.25/5 = 2.25 teaspoonful for each dose.

How many mgs of a drug are needed to prepare 72 doses of 1/12 gr

Doses in grains = 72*1/12 = 6 grains = 6*65 = 390 mg
 • Relative BAV = AUCdrug/AUCreference =Drug (Cmax/Dose) / ref (Cmax/Dose)
• Gross Profit = Sales - Cost
• Gross margin = (Sales – Cost / Sales) * 100
• Markup = (Sales – Cost / Cost) * 100
• Sales price = Cost + (Cost * markup %)
• Displacement Value of Boric acid = 1.5. Means each 1.5 gm of boric acid equal to 1 gram of
suppository base (coca butter)

20 suppositories, each weigh 2 gm contain 500 mg of boric acid. Calculate amount of base
required? (DV of boric acid = 1.5)

Ans. Total amount = 20*2= 40 gm

Amount of boric acid = 500 mg * 20 = 10 gm

1.5 gm boric acid equal 1 gm base; thus, 10 gm boric acid equal to 6.67 gm base

Amount of base required = total weight – equivalent weight of boric acid = 40 – 6.67 = 33.33 gm

• Normality (N) = Equivalent weight dissolved in 1 liter. Equivalent weight = MW/Valence.

How many cc of concentrated HCl required to prepare 500 of 0.05 N acid solution? (MW= 36.5
gm/mole. Purity of HCl = 37% w/w. Density= 1.2 gm/cc)

Ans. 1 N = MW/liter = 36.5 gm / 1000 ml

So, 0.05 N = 1.825 gm/1000 ml
Thus, in 500 ml there is 0.91 gm
37% means 37 gm in 100 gm. So, 0.91 gm in X gm. X= 0.91*100/37 = 2.47 gm

V= m/density= 2.47/1.2 = 2.05 ml

• Total Iron dextran dose in ml = blood loss (ml) * hematocrit (decimal fraction) * 0.02
• Log C = log C0 - 𝐾𝑇/2.303
• T1/2 = 0.693/𝐾

Ans. Log C = log C0 - KT/2.303

log 10-3 = log 10-2 – K*40/2.303

K= 0.057575

T1/2 = 0.693/K = 12.03 min

• For weak acids: pH = pKa + log (ionized/non ionized). Ionized at high pH
- pH - pKa = 0 , ionized 50%
- pH - pKa = 1, ionized 90% pH - pKa = -1, ionized 10%
- pH - pKa = 2, Ionized 99% pH - pKa = -2, ionized 1%
• For weak base: (the opposite of acid) pH = pKa + log (non ionized/ ionized). Ionized at low pH
- pH - pKa = 0 , ionized 50%
- pH - pKa = 1,non-ionized 90% pH - pKa = -1, non-ionized 10%
- pH - pKa = 2, non-Ionized 99% pH - pKa = -2, non-ionized 1%
•

The ratio of ionized to unionized acetic acid is solution is 100:1. What is the pH of solution having
pKa=5.5 ?

Ans. pH = pKa + log (ionized/unionized) = 5.5 + log 100 = 5.5 +2 = 7.5

• Abbreviations: in prescription: aa = equal amounts

Ans. (aa) means equal amounts, each compound has same amount 60 cc

• Milliosmole/L = weight (gm/L) * no of species * 1000 /MW

number of species: number of atoms after dissociation.
Ex. NaCl =2. CaCl2 = 3. Solutes that don’t dissociate such as Dextrose no of species =1
• Osmolarity: measure the no of milliosmole per liter.

Milliosmole/100 cc = gm/100ml * no of species * 1000 / MW

= 25*1*1000/180 = 138.88 milliosmol/100 ml

• Flow rate = Volume (ml) * drop factor (gtt/ml) / time (min) = gtt/min

Flow rate = 300 * 15 / (4*60) = 18.75 drops/min

• 1:500 means 1 gm in 500 ml

How much atropine required to prepare 1:500, 500 cc solution?

Ans. 1 gram.

Ex. 13, 13, 13, 13, 14, 14, 16, 18, 21

* Mean = sum up all values / no. of values (15)
* Median= the middle value (14) (after arranging number in orders, if even number calculate the 2
middle numbers and get the average)
* Mode= most repeated number (13) (if 2 numbers are repeated equally, so the 2 numbers are
mode)

• New dose = (no renal % + (renal% * kidney function %) * dose

• New T1/2= old T/2 + (%renal excreted portion *% renal function*old T1/2)

Ans. New dose = (0.5 + 0.5*0.2) * 125 = 75 mg q6h

--------------------------------------------------------------

Q. At renal function, 44% of the drug excreted unchanged with half life of 8 hours. What will be the
half life for the dose of the drug with 50% renal function?

Answer: New T1/2= old T/2 + (%renal excreted portion *% renal function*old T1/2) = 8 +
(44%*50%*8) = 8 + 1.76= 9.76

Ans. Each ZnSo4 161 has Zinc 65. Thus 220 mg ZnSo4 has X of Zinc
X = 220*65/161 = 88.82

ZnSo4.7H2O = 161 + 7*18= 287

Each 287 ZnSo4.7H2O has 65 Zinc. So how many ZnSo4.7H2o will have 88.82 Zinc

X = 287*88.82/65 = 392 mg
• Molarity = molecular weight in grams/ Litres
* number of moles = wt gm / Mwt
* Mwt of NaCl = 58 so 1molar NaCl = 58 grams in litre

Asn. First we calculate the volume of 5,000,000 unit ampicillin

200,000 unit per ml, means that 5,000,000 should be dissolved in 25 ml.
So the volume of ampicillin = 23-25 ml = 2ml

250,000 unit ever 0.5 ml

5,000,000 unit in XX .
xx = 0.5*5,000,000/250,000 = 10 ml
amount of water added = 10 ml – 2ml = 8 ml