Continue with the specimen preparation

Wet mount (specimen) preparation

You are then instructed to prepare the specimen for observation and you are provided with the following: 

1. Compound microscope

2. Microscope lens cleaning supplies (lens paper, lens cleaner)

3. Microscope slides and coverslips

4. The pond water samples that you collected

You are considering which approach to use to prepare your slide and you have the following options:

Preparation 1:

Place a clean microscope slide on the microscope stage and using a dropper, transfer a small drop of pond water onto the center of the microscope slide. Carefully place a coverslip over the drop of pond water to create a wet mount slide. 

Preparation 2:

Place a clean microscope slide on a flat, stable surfaced and using a dropper, transfer a small drop of pond water onto the center of the microscope slide.  Carefully place a coverslip over the drop of pond water to create a wet mount slide. Transfer on the microscope stage for observation.

Preparation 3: 

Place a clean microscope coverslip on a flat, stable surfaced and using a dropper, transfer a small drop of pond water onto the center of the microscope coverslip.  Carefully place a slide over the drop of pond water to create a wet mount slide. 

You decide that your best option is