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OPRA Medicinal Chemistry and Biopharmaceutics QUESTION #3826
Question 1
What functional role do stearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol serve when incorporated as excipients in pharmaceutical formulations?
  • Preservatives
  • Emulsifiers✔️
  • Binding agents
  • Surfactants
Correct Answer Explanation
Stearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol are fatty alcohols that act as emulsifiers and emollient stabilisers in creams and ointments, helping to form and stabilise water-in-oil or oil-in-water emulsions.