cell membrane and the microscope

[trekkla]

Can anyone tell me the answer to the question “Why can’t you see the cell membrane in plant cells examined under a compound microscop”.

[MrMistery]

1. because it is too thin by comparison with the cell wall.
2. because you would need to use specific dies, whereas in plants we generally use dies to see celulose..

[Poison]

And it is usually near the cell wall, so it is difficult to identify it. And of course it is thin.

[biostudent84]

Cell walls are usually square or rectangular in shape. If you look at the angles of a plant cell, you can usually see the cell membrane in this spot.

*cracks knuckles and attempts ASCII art*

__________
|/————
||
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That’s the best I can do. But where you see the “/” is where you can -sometines- see the cell membrane in plants.

[MrMistery]

Maybe, but even so you would need a good microscope. With my dinosaur i am lucky if i see it after i use Sudan III 😀

[sdekivit]

maybe you can color the celmembrane ?

[MrMistery]

You can if you really want to but you will need a high-performance microscope and a lot of luck to see it against the cell wall. If the cell wall is not colored then you will probably see it, providing the dye works

[February Beetle]

you could always add salt water to the cells… the water will go out of the cell.

*SHRINK* = plasmolysis
you can see the cell membrane crumple to the center of the cell with all the organelles in it but the cell wall doesn’t really move. loss of water, right? then you should be able to see the membrane a lot easier.
you know
if you wanted to.

[MrMistery]

Great idea. How come i didn’t think of what?*hits himself on the head with a hammer* 😆 😆

[Author]

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