Hydrothermal vents appear as giant billowing chimneys of black smoke, with temperatures over 300°C. When this superheated water meets the cold ocean environment, the chemicals dissolved in the hot water instantly precipitates out as a solid. The result is the ever-growing stacks of metals and sulfides – some reaching 60 m tall. In this demonstration, students will build their own hydrothermal vent using two different temperatures of water and items found around classrooms.

Students will see how warm jets of water interact with cold, mimicking the effect of underwater hydrothermal vents.