Preparing for your slide

• What is the first step to view a specimen under a light microscope?

  You need to put it on a microscope slide first.
• What is a microscope slide made of?

  A microscope slide is made of clear glass or plastic.
• What are the steps to prepare a slide to view onion cells?

  1. Add a drop of water to the middle of a clean slide.
  2. Cut up an onion and separate it into layers, then peel off some epidermal tissue.
  3. Place the epidermal tissue into the water on the slide.
  4. Add a drop of iodine solution, which is a stain.
  5. Place a cover slip on top of the specimen.
• What is the purpose of iodine solution when preparing a slide?

  Iodine solution is used as a stain.
• Why are stains used in microscopy?

  Stains are used to highlight objects in a cell by adding color to them.
• What is a cover slip?

  A cover slip is a square of thin, transparent plastic or glass.
• Why should you avoid getting air bubbles under the cover slip?

  Air bubbles will obstruct your view of the specimen.