Using the oil-immersion lens on a compound microscope

[NightRunner417]

Oh... one thing that is VERY important, that she doesn't mention... ALWAYS have a cover glass over your specimen with oil immersion! The drop goes on top of the cover slip! If you try it with an uncovered specimen, it could float off into the oil and contaminate your lens as well as dislocate or even destroy your specimen. Constant vigilance, Potter!

[NightRunner417]

@NightRunner417 I know it may sound silly, but I read on one Youtube video where a guy did just this very thing, with a semen sample of all things, hahahaha. I can't imagine the mess and I'm sure the little guys didn't last long in immersion oil, lol.

[scottohscott]

@NightRunner417 I remember reading that as well. I guess he really could have just skipped the oil all together, lol.

[NightRunner417]

BTW is it just me or is it just really extra special to be taught oil immmersion microscopy by beautiful, smart women? I want one.

[scottohscott]

I just read somewhere that using the oil immersion lens without the oil can damage or destroy the lens. Is that true?

[NightRunner417]

@scottohscott Nah, it's not true... Leastwise I don't see how it could be. Just don't let the lens surface hit your coverslip or specimen, which is good advice for using any objective lens regardless of design. It also of course wouldn't help if you were using oil and did hit the cover slip or specimen

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The only purpose of the oil is to change the refraction of the light, and thus make a sharper image. Think of it as if the lens and subject were all in one piece of glass with no air between.

[altalla8]

thank you! so much more than my teacher taught our class

[ble3d85]

very helpful! :)

[balletrocks92]

Thanks :) It helped me :)