Light Microscopes

Question 1

What is the resolution of a light microscope?

Answer 1

Maximum of about 0.2 µm.

Question 2

What is the magnification of a light microscope?

Answer 2

Maximum of about x 1,500.

Question 3

What are the steps for preparing a wet mount?

Answer 3

• Use a pipette to place a small drop of water onto the centre of the glass slide.
• Use forceps to place a thin section of the specimen onto the drop of water. The specimen should be thin enough to allow light to pass through.
• Add a few drops of stain to the specimen. This increases contrast and allows cell components to become visible.
• Slowly add a cover slip onto the specimen.

Question 4

What is differential staining?

Answer 4

Using more than one stain to distinguish between cells or organelles.

Question 5

What are dry mounts?

Answer 5

The specimen is placed directly onto the slide and covered with a cover slip.

Question 6

What are squash slides?

Answer 6

A wet mount is prepared and the cover slip is pressed to squash the cells.

Question 7

What are smear slides?

Answer 7

The edge of a slide is used to smear the sample to create a thin, even coating on a separate slide.