Title: To Prepare and examine plant (onion) cells, unstained and stained, using the light microscope
- Microscope
- Microscope slides
- Cover slips
- Mounted needle
- Forceps
- Petri dish
- Onion
- Chopping board
- Sharp Knife
- Small paintbrush
- Droppers
- Water
- Iodine stain
- Absorbent paper
- Set up microscope
- Place a drop of water on a slide
- Cut the onion in half and locate some epidermal tissue
- Peel off the epidermis with forceps
- Cut it into small pieces
- Put these pieces into water in a Petri dish
- Transfer one piece into the drop of water on the slide using the small paintbrush
- Place a cover slip at the edge of the water at an angle 45º to the slide
- Slowly lower the cover slip onto the water, supporting it with a mounted needle to avoid trapping air bubbles
- Dry the slide with absorbent paper
- Examine under the microscope
- Repeat the above steps using iodine stain instead of water
- Draw labelled diagrams at low power (x40) and at high power (x400)
We were able to prepare, see and identify the cells and parts of the cell in the onion