Diatoms are single-celled organisms with photosynthetic abilities. They are the most common group of algae and live everywhere in the water bodies, from rivers to lakes to oceans. The diatoms that are found in the marine life are classified into centric diatoms which include the polarity of the arrangements of the processes, and they have a marginal ring, and they possess no polarity of the symmetry. Pinnate diatoms, on the other hand, are further divided into Fragilariineae do not possess a raphe and Bacillariineae, which possesses a raphe.The pinnate diatoms which are the species that developed later in the earth’s history can locomote in a slow and gliding manner towards the direction of the cell length. The mechanism is believed to follow through the cell’s microfibrils protrude and hence they can move over a surface with this. The benthic species are also able to locomote land crawl over a substrate surface. Some of the diatoms are believed to secrete some mucus like substance which helps in their locomotion.
Observing a single-centric under a high power microscope reveals the geometric pattern of the cell wall and as a result, we can see the two valves. The living forms of the cells consist of chloroplasts. This is the point where chlorophyll is stored. The chlorophyll helps the algae to photosynthesize its food.
Diatomaceous earth is a type of stone which is known to be occurring naturally, soft, siliceous sedimentary rock which is normally very easy to crumble. This rock consists of fossil remains of diatoms which are a particular type of algae which is very hard shelled. In most cases this rock is usually used in the filtration process and as a mildly abrasive material in certain products such as toothpaste and metal polishes. The Diatomaceous Earth consists of both centric and pinnate diatoms.