____ is reducing the particle size of solids by trituration with a small amount of a liquid in which the solid is not soluble.

• A. Levigation
• B. Trituration
• C. Pulverization
• D. Grinding

Answer: (A)

Levigation is about reducing particle size by grinding a solid with a small amount of a liquid in which the solid is not soluble. This liquid, the levigating agent, creates a smooth paste that allows efficient milling without dissolving the material. The immiscible, non-solvent nature of the levigating agent prevents dissolution and helps produce finer, more uniform particles that can then be incorporated into a final preparation. This differs from grinding with no liquid (dry grinding), grinding with a solvent that can dissolve the solid (pulverization by dissolution and evaporation), or general trituration, which is simply grinding with a small amount of liquid without the specific immiscible-non-solvent requirement.