Diatomaceous earth is used as heat insulator in boilers and steam pipes because the cell wall of diatom
A
Composed of Iron
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B
Composed of silicon dioxide
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C
Is conductor of heat
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D
Is bad conductor of electricity
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Solution
The correct option is B Composed of silicon dioxide The diatom shells pile up at the bottom of oceans over millions of years formed deposits called diatomaceous earth. These deposits may be a thousand meters thick with as many as five million diatoms shells in each cubic centimeter. This diatomaceous earth is used in many small and large scale industries. The diatomaceous earth can resist high temperature. They are used in the inner lining of furnaces. The cell walls of diatoms (the frustule) are made of 95% silica or silicon dioxide (basically glass). Thus, the correct answer is option B.