Massachusetts Pharmacy Technician License Practice Test

What volume of a solution can be made with one ampule of 80% drug?

1. 5 mL

2. 10 mL

3. 15 mL

4. 20 mL

The correct answer is: 15 mL

To determine the volume of a solution that can be made with one ampule of 80% drug, it is essential to understand the concentration of the solution and how it relates to volume. An ampule containing 80% drug means that 80% of the total volume is the active drug, while the remaining 20% consists of other components, usually a solvent or carrier. When considering how much total volume can be created from a certain amount of active drug, you need to think about the dilution of that drug to create a specific concentration. In this case, an ampule of 80% signifies a strong concentration already, which allows for more substantial volumes to be prepared when diluted appropriately. If one ampule has an active ingredient that can be diluted, the volume that can be prepared from that drug relies on the final concentration required. For example, if you're forming a solution that is less concentrated than 80% (like a 5% or 10% solution), you could produce more total volume while still retaining the appropriate ratio of active drug to diluent. Given that the answer is 15 mL, this indicates that with an ampule of 80% drug, it is possible to create an amount of solution where the