The most stable polymorph tends to have what dissolution characteristic?

• A. Highest dissolution rate
• B. Lowest dissolution rate
• C. No dissolution
• D. Variable dissolution

Answer: (B)

In polymorphism, how tightly a crystal packs and how strong its lattice is determines its stability. The most stable polymorph sits at the lowest solid-state energy and has the strongest, most tightly packed lattice. Dissolution requires breaking that lattice, so a stronger, more stable lattice resists breakage more, leading to a slower dissolution rate and lower overall solubility. Metastable forms, by contrast, have weaker packing and higher solubility, so they dissolve faster but tend to convert to the stable form over time. That’s why the most stable form tends to have the lowest dissolution rate.