Whats the purpose of mixing iodine crystals with sand or silica or alumina when setting up a chamber to stain TLC plates? Why not just use pure
iodine? Boffis - 9-2-2022 at 23:31
I suspect its to increase the surface area of exposed iodine to increase the rate of evaporation but you would need to grind the iodine with the
dilutant to disperse it.Tsjerk - 10-2-2022 at 00:22
Maybe after a couple of uses the iodine unsublimes (that is the opposite of sublime right?) On the sand, making the surface area larger?CharlieA - 18-4-2022 at 13:52
Whats the purpose of mixing iodine crystals with sand or silica or alumina when setting up a chamber to stain TLC plates? Why not just use pure
iodine?
Do you have a literature reference that you are following? ThanksAvBaeyer - 18-4-2022 at 18:06
I have used the I2-silica gel method and it works no better than just some iodine in a jar. I have never quite figured out why the dispersion of
iodine on silica is recommended.
