Preparation of different types of mount

Biology

Wet Mount (WM)

It is the most common type of slide preparation. It is used when the object or material is observed immediately within few minutes after the preparation. This type of mount can't be kept for even an hour. For this type of slide water is used. Put 1 or 2 drops of water on the center of a glass slide. Transfer the material with the help of brush or a forceps and place on the water. Apply the conver slip and remove the excess water along the edge of cover slip with a blotting paper or with a piece of cotton/cloth.

As the water is used as mounting medium, the preparation will get dry very soon due to evaporation. Therefore, the observation should be carred immediatelly after the perparation.

Temporary Mount

It is also common type of slide preparation. It is used when the object or material is observed for few hours after preparation. It can be kept for few hours. For this type of slide glycerine is used instead of water.

Put one drop of glycerine on the center of a glass slide. Take material with the help of brush or a forceps and place on glass slide. Apply the cover slip over mounting material. Remove excess glycerine using a blotting paper.

Whole Mount (WM)

In this type of slide preparation, eatire organism is studied. Put one drop of mounting material (Water of glycerine or canada balsam) and transfer the stained or unstained materials on it. Remove excess glycerine with a blotting paper. Whole mount is commonly made for the observation of smaller organisms such as unicellular organisms and thin thalloid materials.

Permanent Mount

This type of slide is prepared when the meterial is preserved for long time. It is essential to reove out the water from the materials. The process is called dehydration process. Therefore, the material is required to pass through different concentrations of alcohol (10%, 30%, 50%, 70%,90%,100%) for dehydration process, 

Put one drop of mounting material canada balsam on a glass slide. Transfer the dehydrate material over the canada blasm and cover it with cover slip. In this way, permanent slide can be kept or stored for years.