Video Lessons
How Do Oysters Make Pearls
The article explains how calcium carbonate, a common compound found in the Earth’s crust and in the sea, is used by sea creatures to create various structures such as shells and pearls. Mollusks, like oysters, use proteins and crystal structures to manipulate calcium carbonate and create different types of shells. Nacre, a special form of aragonite, is particularly strong and versatile, and is used by mollusks as a defense mechanism to create pearls.