When I prepare TLC plates with only water, then it works well otherwise not. I want to know about the solvents which are also helpful when we have to use spraying reagents. Can anyone please help?
solvent used for preparation and development of TLC plate (i.e mobile phase) has no relation with spraying reagent. solvent used for preparing the spraying reagent should be volatile.
use marketed plates rather than preparing plate. alternatively you can develop mobile phase in marketed plate and once the mobile phase get selected use the plate you are preparing in lab.
Most of the TLC plates are made by mixing Silica Gel in Water only. Spraying agents are all together different. When your compound of interest is run on TLC with a certain mobile phase based on the partition coefficient the pigment/compound travels the plate and if that spot is not visible it is developed by using certain spraying reagents which react with your compound to give a coloured product. Sparying agent selection is based on the type of compound you are isolating via TLC. Hope I could make you understand... Good luck :)
There is no "simple" answer. It really depends what are you trying to analyze.
For tips goggle "guide to TLC" and you will find plenty of data.
Yoram
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