How to Prepare Wet Mount Slides

Biology 11 How to Prepare Wet Mount Slides

1. Obtain a microscope slide and a cover glass. Be sure to handle the slide and cover glass carefully, since they are easily broken. Carefully clean the slide and cover glass with a tissue. Handle the slide and cover glass by the edges to avoid getting finger prints on the glass.

2. Use a medicine dropper to put a small drop of water in the centre of the slide. The water is the mounting medium. A mounting medium is necessary if you are to obtain a clear image of the specimen.

3. Cut a single word containing the letter “e” from the small newsprint. Pick up the printed word with tweezers. Place the word right side up in the drop of water in the center of the glass slide. Allow the newsprint to absorb the water. Add a small drop of water to the top of the word.

4. With the thumb and forefinger, place the edge of the cover glass on the glass slide at the edge of the water drop. Hold the cover glass at about a 30 degree angle to the glass slide and gently lower the cover glass over the drop.