A compound microscope is a type of microscope that uses multiple lenses to generate magnified images of small objects. It is a high power microscope that uses two lenses to increase magnification of tiny objects that would otherwise not be observable. The objective lens, typically 4x, 10x, 40x or 100x, is compounded (multiplied) by the eyepiece lens, typically 10x, to obtain a high magnification of 40x, 100x, 400x and 1000x. Higher magnification is achieved by using two lenses rather than just a single magnifying lens. While the eyepieces and the objective lenses create high magnification, a condenser beneath the stage focuses the light directly into the sample. Compound microscopes are used to view small samples that cannot be identified with the naked eye. These samples are typically placed on a slide under the microscope. Compound microscopes are mainly used for studying the structural details of cells, tissues, or sections of organs. They are also used in science and industries that examine chemicals, minerals, and thin slices of rock samples.