I carried out thin layer chromatography and afterwards had to stain my plate with iodine as an alternative viewing method but the analytes did not take a brown or yellow color. The whole plate was just stained with iodine. Wat are the possible sources of error for this?
We can try increasing the amount of analytics loaded for preliminary confirmation. Or We can check the TLC under UV. Otherwise we have many staining reagents as follows
https://www.silicycle.com/faq/thin-layer-chromatography/stains-for-tlc-plates
Thank you @Kanugala, I used a sufficient amount of analytes as already seen under the uv lamp but I want to know other possible reasons for the iodine staining, it self, working
Another possibility is that the compound doesn't stain with iodine. This reference claims iodine works about half the time:
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Organic_Chemistry/Book%3A_Organic_Chemistry_Lab_Techniques_(Nichols)/02%3A_Chromatography/2.02%3A_Thin_Layer_Chromatography_(TLC)/2.2.0F%3A_2.2F%3A_Visualizing_TLC_Plates
As you see the spots under the UV light, you know the plate ran properly.
Also consider using a sulfuric acid spray followed by charring (heat) if you are using glass or metal TLC plates.
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