Microscopy help!!!!!?

Question

Why is an oak leaf not a good specimen for inspecting with a light microscope?

Why is a wet mount slide better than a dry mount slide when a living cell is the specimen?

Answer 1

An oak leaf is too thick for the light microscope.

Water has a higher refractive index than air. Light is distorted less when it passes through glass-water-glass, than through glass-air-glass. Also when the specimen is suspended in water, and placed between a slide and cover slip, the specimen is compressed into a thin layer. So a wet mount is better a dry mount.

Even when the specimen is stained and dried, it is better to view it after it is mounted with Permount and a cover slip.