Select the wrong statement

Options

A. Diatoms are microscopic and float passively in water
B. Walls of diatoms are easily destructible
C. "Diatomaceous earth" is formed by the cell walls of diatoms
D. Diatoms are chief producers in the oceans.

Answer

To determine the wrong statement about diatoms, we will analyze each statement provided in the question step by step.

### Step 1: Analyze the First Statement
The first statement claims that "diatoms are microscopic and float passively in water."
- **Evaluation**: This statement is correct. Diatoms are indeed microscopic organisms and they float passively in water, primarily found in marine environments.

### Step 2: Analyze the Second Statement
The second statement states that "walls of diatoms are easily destructible."
- **Evaluation**: This statement is incorrect. The cell walls of diatoms are made of silica, which is a hard and resilient material. Therefore, they are not easily destructible.

### Step 3: Analyze the Third Statement
The third statement mentions that "diatomaceous earth is formed by the cell walls of diatoms."
- **Evaluation**: This statement is correct. The silica cell walls of diatoms accumulate on the seabed and form diatomaceous earth.

### Step 4: Analyze the Fourth Statement
The fourth statement claims that "diatoms are chief producers in the oceans."
- **Evaluation**: This statement is also correct. Diatoms are primary producers in marine ecosystems and are classified as phytoplankton.

### Conclusion
After evaluating all the statements, we find that the second statement is the only incorrect one. Therefore, the wrong statement is:

**Answer**: The walls of diatoms are easily destructible.

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