# A pharmaceutical company produces a painkiller tablet. Each tablet contains exact quantities of an active ingredient, a binding agent and a coating substance. Explain why the painkiller tablet is described as a formulation rather than a pure substance, and explain how melting point data could be used to confirm that the active ingredient on its own is a pure substance.

> Eduqas A-Level Chemistry — 1.4 States of matter · Explain · 5 marks

> A pharmaceutical company produces a painkiller tablet. Each tablet contains exact quantities of an active ingredient, a binding agent and a coating substance.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. A formulation is a mixture designed for a particular use / the tablet contains more than one substance
2. The components are mixed in exact / carefully measured quantities
3. The tablet is not a pure substance because it contains more than one compound / it contains a mixture of substances not chemically bonded together
4. A pure substance has a sharp / specific melting point (melts at one exact temperature)
5. If the active ingredient is pure, its measured melting point will match the expected / known melting point exactly / will not melt over a range of temperatures

## Key terms

- [formulation](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/formulation)
- [pure substance](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/pure-substance)
- [melting point data](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/melting-point-data)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Eduqas A-Level Chemistry](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-pharmaceutical-company-produces-a-painkiller-b37a5ca0) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.