CCAP CCAP Essential Oil Chemistry 2

Question 1

Monoterpenes such as limonene and pinene are volatile at room temperature primarily because they:

Accepted Answer

Have low molecular weight and high vapor pressure

Answer

Monoterpenes evaporate quickly due to their small molecular size and high vapor pressure, which is why they are top notes in aromatherapy blends.

Question 2

Which process is used to extract most steam-distilled essential oils from plant material?

Accepted Answer

Steam or hydro-distillation

Answer

Steam or hydro-distillation passes steam through plant material, volatilizing aromatic constituents that are then condensed and separated from the hydrosol.

Question 3

Furanocoumarins in bergamot essential oil (e.g., bergapten) are clinically significant because they cause:

Accepted Answer

Photosensitivity and phototoxicity when skin is exposed to UV light

Answer

Furanocoumarins are phototoxic compounds that react with UV radiation to cause skin burns, hyperpigmentation, or blistering — requiring a bergapten-free version for topical use.

Question 4

A clinical aromatherapist reviews a GC/MS report showing an unusually high percentage of an unexpected constituent. This most likely indicates:

Accepted Answer

Possible adulteration or contamination of the oil

Answer

Unexpected high percentages of atypical constituents on a GC/MS report are a key indicator of adulteration — the addition of synthetic or foreign substances to the essential oil.

Question 5

What is a 'chemotype' (ct.) in essential oil terminology?

Accepted Answer

A variant of the same plant species with a distinctly different chemical profile

Answer

A chemotype refers to plants of the same species grown in different regions or conditions that produce essential oils with significantly different dominant chemical constituents.

(CCAP) Certified Clinical Aromatherapy Practitioner Practice Test

(CCAP) Certified Clinical Aromatherapy Practitioner Practice Test

CCAP CCAP Essential Oil Chemistry 2