Alginates are used in many everyday products, including toothpaste and soap. When added to water, they form a thick gel that binds or emulsifies liquids. Alginates come from a group of multicellular stramenopiles that have one pigment that masks all others and therefore gives these organisms a distinctive, dark color. Alginates are derived from
◦ water molds.
◦ green algae.
◦ dinoflagellates.
◦ brown algae.