Question

If the granule density of potassium bicarbonate is 2.350 g/cc and the true density is 3.560 g/cc, determine the interparticle porosity of the powder.

• A. 0.56
• B. 0.44
• C. 0.66
• D. 0.34

Hint:

Interparticle porosity is important for understanding powder flow, compressibility, and packing behavior in pharmaceutical formulations.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Interparticle porosity (\(\varepsilon\)) refers to the void spaces between particles in a powder or granule bed. It can be calculated using the relationship between true density and granule (or apparent) density as follows: \[ \varepsilon = 1 - \frac{\rho_{\text{granule}}}{\rho_{\text{true}}} \] Where, \(\rho_{\text{granule}} = 2.350 \, \text{g/cc}\) (given)
\(\rho_{\text{true}} = 3.560 \, \text{g/cc}\) (given)
Substitute values: \[ \varepsilon = 1 - \frac{2.350}{3.560} = 1 - 0.659 = 0.341 \] Therefore, the interparticle porosity is approximately 0.34.