FPGEE 2025 Practice Exam for NABP – The Complete All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

Surfactants play a vital role in the formation of emulsions, which are mixtures of two immiscible liquids, such as oil and water. The primary function of a surfactant in this context is to reduce interfacial tension between the two phases, allowing them to mix more easily and remain stable.

Suspending agents are specifically designed to stabilize emulsions by preventing the separation of phases. They achieve this by creating a barrier around dispersed droplets, which keeps them suspended within the continuous phase. This is crucial for maintaining the homogeneity of the emulsion over time, thereby ensuring that the product remains effective and aesthetically pleasing.

While wetting agents can assist with spreading and reducing surface tension, their primary role is not to form and stabilize emulsions. Antioxidants and foaming agents also serve different purposes in formulations—antioxidants protect against oxidative degeneration, while foaming agents create or stabilize foams rather than emulsions.

Thus, the correct answer points to the specific role of suspending agents in emulsion stability, highlighting their importance in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations where emulsions are prevalent.