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Microscope immersion oil

--JW
in Amateur Science

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Hi,

 

I have a microscope with a 100x oil immersion objective. I don't want to buy costly immersion oil, so I was wondering if there is some sort of alternative you can use?

Thanks.

  • 1 month later...

Immersion oils for microscopy have a high refractive index to increase the numerical aperture of the objective lens. The typical immersion oil has a refraction index of 1.515.

 

Before the advent of synthetic immersion oils, Cedar tree oil was used. As with other oils, Cedar oils primary disadvantage is in its absorption of ultraviolet and blue light as well as a number of other problems.

 

Long story short, go with the synthetic.

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