Q24
2 marksShort AnswerSection B

List the steps of preparation of temporary mount of a leaf peel to observe stomata.

Life Processes
Autotrophic Nutrition - Stomata Observation
Official Answer

To prepare a temporary mount of a leaf peel to observe stomata, follow these steps:


  1. Peeling: Gently bend/fold a freshly plucked leaf (such as a Rheo or Tradescantia leaf) and pull a thin, translucent peel from its lower surface using a pair of forceps.
  2. Transferring: Place the leaf peel immediately into a watch glass containing clean water to prevent it from drying out.
  3. Staining: Transfer the peel to a watch glass containing a few drops of Safranin stain for about 1–2 minutes to color the cell walls and nuclei.
  4. Mounting: Place the stained peel on a clean glass slide. Add a drop of glycerine over it to prevent drying, and gently place a coverslip over the peel using a needle at an angle to avoid trapping any air bubbles. Absorb excess stain/water using filter paper.
  5. Observation: Observe the slide under the low power of a microscope first, and then switch to high power to clearly see the stomatal pores and guard cells.
Lower epidermisForcepsSafraninGlycerineCoverslipAir bubblesMicroscope

Marking Scheme

  • 10.5 marks
  • 20.5 marks
  • 30.5 marks
  • 40.5 marks

Hint

Remember to peel from the *lower* surface of the leaf because that is where stomata are most abundant in terrestrial plants, and use a needle to lower the coverslip slowly to prevent air bubbles.

Quick Oral Answer

We use glycerine because it is a dehydrating agent that keeps the specimen moist for a long duration and has a refractive index close to glass, which improves image clarity under the microscope.

Analysis & Explanation

This practical-based question tests the student's understanding of basic histological techniques used in plant physiology. The lower epidermis of terrestrial leaves contains a higher density of stomata to minimize water loss. Safranin is a basic dye that stains lignified tissues and cell walls, making the guard cells and stomatal pore highly visible under a light microscope. Glycerine acts as a mounting medium that prevents dehydration of the specimen during observation.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1Taking the peel from the upper surface of the leaf where stomata are very few or absent in many terrestrial plants.
  2. 2Allowing the peel to dry out before mounting.
  3. 3Trapping air bubbles under the coverslip, which obscure the view of the guard cells.

Interesting Facts

Desert plants keep their stomata closed during the day to prevent water loss and take up carbon dioxide at night, storing it as an intermediate acid (malic acid) until daylight allows photosynthesis to proceed.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many marks does this question carry in CBSE Class 10 Science 2018?

This question carries 2 marks in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2018 examination.

Which chapter does this question come from in Science?

This question is from the chapter "Life Processes" in the CBSE Class 10 Science syllabus.

What topic does this question cover in Science?

This question covers the topic "Autotrophic Nutrition - Stomata Observation" from CBSE Class 10 Science.

What type of question is this in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2018 paper?

This is a Short Answer question from Section B in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2018 paper.