Aim:

To prepare a stained, temporary mount of onion peel and to study its cells.

Theory:

All living organisms are composed of cells. New cells arise by the division of pre-existing
cells.

Cell is thestructural and functional unit of life. In plants, cells have an outermost rigid cell wall beneath w

Is a cell membrane. The cell membrane encloses cytoplasm, cell organelles and nucleus.

Materials needed:

An onion bulb, slides, cover slips, two watch glasses, needle, brush, forceps, razor blade, compound m

blotting paper, methylene blue or safranin solution, glycerine and water.

Procedure:

1. Take one fleshy scale leaf of an onion. Break it into

two and using a forcep pull out a thin membranous
peel adhering to the inner surface of the leaf. This is
the epidermal peel.
2. Place the peel in a watch glass containing water and
cut it into small rectangular pieces.
3. Mix 1 or 2 drops of methylene blue or safrarin in a small quantity of
water taken in another watch glass and transfer the peels into it.
 Leave the peels for about 3 minutes. Dip the peel in water to
remove excess stain.
4. Take a clean slide with a drop of glycerine in the middle and
using a brush transfer the washed and stained peel on to it.
5. Place a cover slip over it by slowly lowering it with a needle. Avoid
entry of air bubbles.
6. Remove excess glycerine from the edges of cover slip with the
help of a piece of blotting paper.
7. Observe the slide under the microscope, first in low power and
then in high power.
8. Draw a labelled diagram of the cells as seen under microscope.

9. Note the features listed in the observation.

S.No. Features Observation

Shape of Spherical/ oval/ rectangular/ square

cells
Arrangement of cells Compact/loose
Inter-cellular spaces Present /absent
Nucleus Present/ absent
Cell wall Present/ absent
Stained portions of cell Cell wall/ cytoplasm/ nucleus/ cell
Unstained portions of cell Cell wall/ cytoplasm/ vacuole
Result:
The cells that form the peel are _____________ in
shape, ______________ arranged and without any
_____________ spaces. Each cell has a distinct -
___________-, a prominent ____________ and a
______________. The Cells forms the outer layer of leaf called
epidermis.
Precautions:

• Staining of the peel must be appropriate. Excess stain

can be removed by rinsing the peel with water taken in
a watch glass.
• Use a brush to transfer the peel on to the slide.
• While placing the cover slip care should be taken to avoid air bubbles.
Aim:

To prepare a temporary mount of human cheek epithelial cells, and to

study its characteristics.
Theory:
Like plants, the body of all animals including humans is composed of
cells. Unlike plant cells, animal cells do not have cell wall. The
outermost covering of an animal cell is a cell membrane. The
cytoplasm, nucleus and other cell organelles are enclosed in it.
Epithelial tissue is the outermost covering of most organs and cavities
of an animal body.
Materials required:
Methylene blue stain, glycerine, a compound microscope, slide, cover
slip, a clean spatula or a toothpick, a brush, a needle, and a piece of
blotting paper.
Procedure:
1. Rinse your mouth with fresh water.

2. With the help of a clean spatula or a toothpick, gently scrap the

inner side of your cheek.

3. Transfer the scrapped material into a drop of water taken on a clean

slide.

4.With the help of a needle spread the material uniformly.

5.Add a drop of methylene blue stain. After about 3 minutes put a drop of
glycerine over it.

6.Place a clean cover slip over the glycerine. Remove the excess glycerine
from the edges of cover slip with the help of a piece of blotting paper.
7.Examine the slide under microscope, first under low power and then
under high power.

8.Draw diagrams of cells as seen under the microscope.

9.Observe and record the features.

1. Note the features listed in the observation.

S.No. Feature Observation
1. Shape of cell Rectangular/polygonal
2. Arrangement Compact/ loose
3. Intercellular space Present/absent
4. Cell wall Present/ absent
5. Cell membrane Present/absent
6. Vacuoles Present/absent
Result:
The cells that form the cheek cell are _____________ in shape,
______________ arranged and without _____________ spaces. Each
cell has a distinct ___________, a prominent ____________ and a
______________. The
cells forms the outer layer of leaf called epidermis.

Precautions:

• Staining of the peel must be appropriate. Excess stain

can be removed by rinsing the peel with water taken in
a watch glass.
• Use a brush to transfer the peel on to the slide.
• While placing the cover slip care should be taken to avoid air bubbles.
Objective:

To prepare a temporary mount of a leaf peel and observe stomata under a microscope.

Materials Required:

 Fresh leaf (e.g., Rhoeo, Tradescantia or any soft dicot leaf)

 Forceps
 Watch glass
 Needle
 Blade
 Glass slide
 Cover slip
 Dropper
 Glycerine
  Microscope
 Blotting paper or tissue

Theory:

Stomata are small pores present in the epidermis of leaves. They regulate gas exchange
and transpiration. Each stoma is surrounded by two kidney-shaped guard cells. In this
experiment, a peel from the lower epidermis of a leaf is mounted

Procedure:

1. Selection of Leaf:
o Choose a fresh leaf, preferably from the lower surface where stomata are
more in number.
2. Peeling the Epidermis:
o Use forceps to gently peel off a thin layer of the lower epidermis from the
leaf.
o If using a Rhoeo or onion-like leaf, peeling is easier from the edge.
3. Mounting the Peel:
o Place the peel flat on a clean glass slide using a needle or brush.
o Add 1–2 drops of glycerine to the peel to prevent it from drying.
4. Placing the Cover Slip:
o Carefully place a cover slip over the peel at an angle to avoid air bubbles.
o Use blotting paper or tissue paper to absorb exce
o
 5. Microscopic Observation:
o Place the slide under the compound microscope.
o Observe first under low power, then high power.
o Identify and note the structure and number of stomata.

Observation:

Under the microscope, you will observe:

 Small openings (stomata) surrounded by two kidney-shaped guard cells.

 Each stoma is an opening for gas exchange.
 In some cases, subsidiary cells may also be seen surrounding guard cells.

Result:

1.________ are clearly visible on the lower epidermis of the leaf.

2.The presence of ________ confirms the stoma’s role in regulating gas exchange and
transpiration.

Precautions:

 Handle the microscope and slides carefully.

 Avoid folding or overlapping the peel.
  Place the cover slip gently to avoid trapping air bubbles.
 Use fresh leaf material for best results.

Objective:

To demonstrate that carbon dioxide (CO₂) is produced during respiration by using

potassium hydroxide (KOH), which absorbs CO₂ and leads to a decrease in the volume of
air.
Principle:

During respiration, living organisms break down glucose, producing carbon dioxide (CO₂)
and releasing energy. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) absorbs CO₂, and the resulting
decrease in gas volume can be measured. The KOH solution absorbs CO₂ from the flask,
leading to a visible reduction in pressure or volume, which confirms the production of CO₂
during respiration.

Materials Required:

 Respirometer or conical flask with a rubber stopper

 Potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution (concentrated)
 Germinating seeds (e.g., peas or beans)
 Boiled seeds (control)
 Thermometer
 Water bath (optional, to maintain temperature)
 Measuring cylinder
 Test tube or small conical flask
 Glass tube with a stopper
 Capillary tube or manometer (optional for measuring pressure change)
 Thread or cotton (to place the seeds)

Procedure:

1. Prepare the Seeds:

 o Soak germinating seeds (e.g., peas) for 24–48 hours to begin the
germination process.
o Boil another set of seeds to kill them, serving as the control.
2. Set Up the Respirometer:
o Take a conical flask and insert a rubber stopper with a delivery tube
attached.
o At one end of the delivery tube, connect a test tube containing a few drops of
potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution (this will absorb the carbon dioxide).
o Place the germinating seeds (experimental setup) in the conical flask and
boiled seeds (control setup) in another flask.
3. Adding KOH Solution:
o Place about 10 mL of KOH solution into the test tube connected to the
delivery tube.
o KOH will absorb CO₂ produced during respiration, leading to a decrease in
air volume inside the flask.
4. Sealing and Measuring:
o Seal the flask with the rubber stopper to ensure no air enters or leaves.
o To measure the change in volume, you can either:
 Use a manometer or capillary tube to detect the pressure difference.
 Alternatively, use a water bath to maintain optimal conditions (25–
30°C) for seed respiration.
5. Incubation:
o Keep the setup at room temperature or slightly warm to maintain the
temperature conducive to seed respiration.
 o Observe the apparatus for a period of 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Observation:

 In the experimental setup (germinating seeds), after some time, you will notice that
the level of water in the capillary tube or the manometer will rise due to the
absorption of CO₂ by KOH, which creates a vacuum.
 In the control setup (boiled seeds), the level of water or pressure will not change, as
there is no respiration occurring.

Result:

 The rise in water level in the capillary tube or manometer indicates that CO₂ is
being absorbed by the KOH solution, which confirms that respiration is occurring
and CO₂ is being produced.
 The control setup will show no change, confirming that only living organisms
release CO₂ during respiration.

Chemical Reaction Involved:

When carbon dioxide is produced by respiration, it is absorbed by the KOH solution:

CO2(g)+2KOH(aq)→K2CO3(aq)+H2O(l)

(KOH absorbs CO₂ to form potassium carbonate and water.)

Conclusion:

This experiment demonstrates that carbon dioxide is released during the process of
respiration, and the KOH solution effectively absorbs CO₂, leading to a measurable
change in the volume or pressure in the respirometer.

Precautions:

 Ensure that the setup is airtight to avoid any leakage of air.

 Use fresh and properly germinated seeds for accurate results.
 Handle KOH with care, as it is a strong base.
 Use an adequate amount of KOH solution to absorb the CO₂ produced during
respiration.
 Maintain a suitable temperature for seed respiration (25–30°C).