Electron microscope

• Electron microscope is the one

that uses beam of electrons as a
source of radiation.
• Electrons are negatively charged
particles found in an orbit
around the nucleus of an atom.
• When a metal is heated, some
of its electrons gain so much
energy that they escape from
their orbits and these electrons
are used for the functioning of
electron microscope.
 Electron microscope
• Electron microscope is like an upside down light microscope. The
radiation enters at the top and the specimen is viewed at the
bottom.
• The principle is the same as in a light microscope in that a beam of
radiation is focused by condenser lenses through the specimen, and
then the image is magnified by further lenses.
• A high voltage is passed through a tungsten filament, at the top of
the microscope. The hot filament releases a stream of electrons,
kicked out of their orbits by the high voltage.
• Condenser electromagnetic lens focuses the electrons through the
specimen and the specimen is magnified by objective and
eyepiece/projector electromagnetic lenses.
Electron microscope
 Electron microscope
• The inside of the microscope has to be kept under a vacuum, otherwise the
electrons would collide with air molecules and scattered making it impossible to
achieve a sharp picture.
• Because of the vacuum, specimens must be completely dehydrated (water boils
at room temperature in a vacuum), and thus living material cannot be viewed.
• Specimens must be extremely thin for the electron beam to pass through the
specimen. Thus only very thin sections of material or very small particles can be
observed, because electrons are easily absorbed by larger objects.
• Electrons cannot be seen with the human eye, so the image is made visible by
shining the electrons on to a fluorescent screen for direct viewing, or on to a
photographic plate for permanent recording. This gives a black and white image.
• A photograph taken with an electron microscope is called an electron
micrograph.
Electron micrographs of plant and animal cells
 Advantages and disadvantages of electron microscope
Advantages:
• High resolution
• High magnification

Disadvantages:
• The specimen must be dead because it is viewed in a vaccum.
• It is difficult to be sure that the specimen resembles a living cell in all its
details because preservation and staining may change or damage the
structure.
• Expensive to buy and run.
• Preparation of material is time consuming and requires expert training.
• The specimen gradually deteriorates in the electron beam. Photographs must
therefore be taken if further study is required.