What is the name of the glass sheet that holds a specimen on a microscope?

The glass sheet that holds a specimen on a microscope is called a slide. A slide provides a flat, stable surface where the specimen can be placed for observation. It allows light to pass through, making it possible to see the specimen clearly when viewed under the microscope. The use of a slide is essential in microscopy, as it ensures that the specimen is held securely in place and can be easily manipulated for focusing and adjustments.

While the stage is the platform where the slide is placed and moved, and a cover slip is used to cover the specimen on the slide to protect it and flatten it for better viewing, the slide itself is the component that directly holds the specimen. The lens, on the other hand, are the optical components that magnify the specimen for observation. Thus, the slide is correctly identified as the glass sheet used to hold specimens in microscopy.