Final answer:
Scientists use staining to distinguish the components of cells when using a light microscope. Stains color the components to make them visible, but this process generally results in the death of the cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
When viewing a specimen through a light microscope, scientists use staining to distinguish the individual components of cells. Although cell components are generally transparent, special stains can color these components to make them visible. Unfortunately, staining usually kills the cells, so it is not a method used for observing living cells. Other microscopy methods like electron microscopy or polarized light microscopy use different techniques for imaging, but for light microcopy, staining is the common approach for enhancing contrast in the samples.