HOSA Pharmacy Science Assessment Practice Test

When creating a paste from a triturated powder, the addition of a liquid agent is essential to achieve the desired consistency. Mineral oil serves this purpose effectively as it is a commonly used lubricant that can blend smoothly with powders to form a cohesive paste.

The role of mineral oil is particularly important in pharmaceutical applications, as it can help to facilitate the mixing process, ensuring even distribution of the powder and achieving the right texture for topical or other applications. It is often favored for its inertness and ability to enhance the usability of the formulation, making it ideal for compounding purposes.

In contrast, levigation refers to the process of reducing particle size through grinding in a wet medium, but it does not directly create a paste by itself. Adding other powders would only create a mixture rather than a paste. An emulsifier, while useful in stabilizing mixtures of oil and water, is not typically used to form pastes from powders. Thus, mineral oil stands out as the correct choice for forming a paste from triturated powders.