What is pH. pH is a measure of the hydorgen ion concentration of a solution. Solutions with a high concentration of hydrogen ions have a low pH and solutions with a low concentrations of H+ ions have a high pH. This may seem like a confusion way to express these reationships, and it is, until you understand what pH stands for.
Because they depend on sunlight for photosynthesis, diatoms generally live in the upper 200 meters of oceans and bodies of fresh water. Some species of diatoms simply float in the water currents near the surface.Others attach themselves to larger floating objects or to the sea floor.ecause they depend on sunlight for photosynthesis, diatoms generally live in the upper 200 meters of oceans and bodies of fresh water. Some species of diatoms simply float in the water currents near the surface.
Diatoms are algae with distinctive, transparent cell walls made of silicon dioxide hydrated with a small amount of water (Si02 + H20). Silica is the main component of glass and hydrated silica is very like the mineral opal, making these algae, often called algae in glass houses more like algae in opal houses.The cell wall is called a frustule and consists of two halves called valves.Since silica is impervious, diatoms have evolved elaborate patterns of perforations in their valves to allow nutrient and waste exchange with the environment.iatoms grow as single cells or form filaments and simple colonies. Ecology. Diatoms are abundant in nearly every habitat where water is found â oceans, lakes, streams, mosses, soils, even the bark of trees. These algae form part of the base of aquatic food webs in marine and freshwater habitats.