how can you make your own TLC plates?using microscope slides?

Question

volume ratio please, how thich would be the slurry thing over the slide be?
is it preferable to have the coating thick or thin?

Answer 1

You'd have to experiment to get the best ratio of silica gel to water. Ditto the coating thickness. It's better to have thin coatings, so the sample won't spread out by traveling at different rates "top-to-bottom." It's probably best to make your own silica gel so it will be maximally hydrated. You can add acid to sodium silicate solution and filter the precipitate. Then slurry the precipitate with water and filter again. Repeat. Finally, make your slurry without ever letting the silica get dry out.

Na4SiO4 + 4HCl ===> SiO2(s) + 4NaCl + 2H2O