Genecks Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 I have some microscope slides with brain tissue slides on them. They have a glass cover slip over all of the slices. I'll do oil drop on them in order to observe, but when I'm cleaning up I have to use alcohol. It's been a while since I've walked into the laboratory, and it's difficult for me to get a hold of my supervisors. As such, anyone know which alcohol I should be using? Isopropanol? 70% ethanol? I cannot seriously recall nor reason as to why not to use one rather than the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharonY Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 70% ethanol is for disinfection. For oil removal you can use either isopropanol or ethanol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genecks Posted December 10, 2010 Author Share Posted December 10, 2010 If it means anything, the room also has a fluorescent microscope, of which I don't ever use. To clean off fluorescent microscope slides is a isopropanol or ethanol used? Does it matter? I really somewhat chuckle and think it's insane that there are two bottles of alcohol. I'll ask my supervisor the next time I see him, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greippi Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 Why is it insane that there are two bottles of alcohol? We have at least 11. Use the isopropanol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharonY Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 Isopropanol and ethanol are realatively close in terms of their dissolution ability. Ethanol is slightly more polar and more salt tolerant. However, for cleaning purposes denatured ethanol should be used (due to cost issues). I have no idea why a well-equipped lab is insane (well, two bottles is rather poorly equipped, actually). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMF Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Windex works just fine for dirty or immersion oil covered slides. SM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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