What characteristic indicates that tissue may be frozen too hard during slicing?

When tissue is frozen too hard during the slicing process, it can lead to chipping into fragments. This occurs because extremely hard tissue does not slice smoothly; instead, the cutting blade may encounter more resistance, causing the tissue to break apart rather than being cleanly cut. This fragmentation results in irregular pieces that can compromise the integrity of the specimen for histopathological examination, making it challenging to analyze the morphology of the tissue accurately.

In contrast, uneven cuts might arise from various factors, such as improper blade angle or technique, while excess moisture typically pertains to sample preparation issues rather than the freezing process itself. Color fading can indicate problems with staining or fixation but is not directly related to the hardness of the frozen tissue during slicing.