Question

What happens when diatoms die?

Answer 1

Diatoms:

1. The single-celled algae living in glass houses containing freshwater are known as diatoms.
2. The cell wall of diatoms is made up of transparent, opaline silica.
3. Example of diatoms: Chaetoceros, Cyclotella.
4. When diatoms die, they drop to the ocean floor and decay.
5. However, their shells do not decay and instead, form a material known as diatomaceous earth.

Thus, when diatoms die, diatomaceous earth is formed.