Using a light microscope practical

• Observing cells required practical

  Aim - to make a slide with onion cells then use a microscope to observe draw and label these and other cells

  Apparatus

  1. small piece of onion
  2. forceps
  3. microscope slide
  4. iodine solution
  5. light microscope
• Observing cells

  1. Use forceps to peel a thin layer of epidermal tissue from the onion

  2. Carefully lay the thin layer on the slide

  3. Add one or two drops of iodine solution

  4. Lower the coverslip over the onion layer, remove excess liquid with tissue paper

  5. Place slide on microscope stage

  6. Turn turret to lowest power objective lens

  7. Looking from the side, use coarse wheel to raise objective lens until it almost touches the slide

  8. Looking through eyepiece, focus the image

  9. Turn to higher power lenses, repeat