Characteristic:

The reagents employed include diphenylthiocarbazone (dithizone), rubeanic acid, diphenyl alizarin, dithiocarbazide, morin,  salicylaldoxime, potassium ferrocyanide, potassium chromate, and ammonium sulphide and hydrogen sulphide gas. In many cases, two or more of these reagents are advantageous.

The spots are characterized by their characteristic Rf values. Identical Rf values for a known and an unknown compound using several different solvent systems provide a good evidence that two are same especially if they run side by side along the same strip of paper.