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Investigation: How Black Smoker Vent Chimneys Form
NOAA Ocean Exploration
Lesson Overview
In today's Daily Do, students engage in science and engineering practices and use patterns as a thinking tool to make sense of the Black Smoker Chimney phenomenon. Students investigate how a solid forms from the mixing of two liquids. Students use the science ideas they develop to help explain how chimneys form at hydrothermal vents.
You can also access the Investigation: How Black Smoker Vent Chimneys Form lesson from the NOAA Ocean Exploration website.
Materials
Individual Student Materials
Vent Chimney Student Activity Sheet
Group Materials for Hands-On Investigation
• (2) 250-mL beakers
• Plastic 1-mL transfer pipette
• 400 mL water, distilled if available
• Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt)
• Sodium carbonate (washing soda)
• Plastic spoons or laboratory spatulas and stirring rods
• Filter paper (optional)
• Funnel (optional)
Acknowledgments
This is a NOAA Ocean Exploration Lesson. Additional lessons and other resources about the deep ocean can be found at the NOAA Ocean Exploration website.