Question

Josey wants to look at the cells of an onion under a light microscope. She peels off a thin, transparent layer of onion and places it on a

microscope slide. Josey places the sample on the microscope stage, looks through the eyepiece, and adjusts the stage to focus the image
However, she is unable to see any details of the cells.
Which of the following possible solutions could possibly help Josey to see the onion cells in detail?

A. Josey should use a thicker piece of onion for her sample
B. Josey shouldhplace her onion sample in a vacuum.
C. Josey should place a drop of water on her sample
D. Josey should apply a stain, such as iodine, to her sample

Answer 1

D

Step-by-step explanation:

A cell and its organelles are usually transparent hence hard to discern without staining. There are different staining techniques that are useful for viewing various type of cells and organelles depending on which stain they pick up well. In this case of an onion, the starch molecules in the onion will take up the iodine and improve visualization. This due to the fact that iodine molecules get emended in the structure of the amylose and amylopectin molecules of starch causing starch molecules to turn blue lack (due to a change in light absorption spectra of the complex).