Experiment+2

Using the Microscope

Aim: In this activity you will learn how to: a) Correctly handle the microscope b) Make a wet mount c) Stain a wet mount d) Make a biological drawing

Your teacher will demonstrate each of the activities.

You are required to write a method for this experiment, including: 1. How do you safely handle the microscope? 2. How do you correctly focus the microscope? 3. How do you make a wet mount? 4. How do you stain a wet mount?

For the results of this experiment you will need to make two biological drawings. One of the diagrams will be of an unstained onion cell and one will be of an onion cell stained with iodine or methylene blue stain. //**Here are my answers to the questions presented above**// Q1. How do you safely handle the microscope? A1. When moving a microscope, carry it with both hands. Hold the arm in one hand and the base with another (pictured below). Make sure when placing in the slide you are useing, you are careful when placing it in the stage clips.

Q2. How do you correctly focus the microscope? <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">A2. To focus a microscope, slowly turn the coarse adjustment so that the objective lens goes up. Continue until the slide comes into focus. Use the fine adjustment for fine focusing. Turn the coase knob so the stage moves away from the objective lens. <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Q3. How do you make a wet mount? <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">A3. To make a wet mount, you first have to place your specimen on a glass slide, add water, then top it off with a cover slip. <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Q4. How do you stain a wet mount? <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">A4. To stain a wet mount, first prepare a wet mount, then you add a drop of iodine or methylene blue stain. Next, tear off a small piece of paper towel and set it against the opposite end of the cover slip as close to the edge as possible. Wait until the paper towel has pulled all of the stain inbetween the cover slip and the slide. The stain should cover the specimen. If it doesn't, add another drop of the stain t0o the edge of the cover slip. <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">//**Here are my biological drawings (onion cells)**// <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">