What role does bentonite play in suspension prescriptions?

• A. Stabilizer and thickening agent
• B. Flavoring agent
• C. Preservative
• D. Wetting agent

Answer: (A)

In suspension prescriptions, keeping solid particles evenly dispersed over time is the goal, and a key way to achieve that is by increasing the viscosity and building a network that stabilizes the dispersed phase. Bentonite hydrates in water to form a viscous, gel-like dispersion. The swollen clay particles create a three-dimensional network that traps and suspends the solids, slowing their settling according to how viscosity and the gel structure hinder movement. This dual action—raising viscosity to slow sedimentation and providing a stabilizing matrix around particles—makes bentonite an effective stabilizer and thickening agent for suspensions.

Flavoring agents, preservatives, and wetting agents serve other roles—taste enhancement, microbial protection, and improved wetting or dispersion, respectively. Bentonite’s primary contribution in this context is the combination of stabilization and thickening, not flavor, preservation, or surface-tension modification.