Erupting Black Hole Science Experiment

This is such a fun and easy science experiment for your young space lovers! Create a Black Hole using simple ingredients from the kitchen, then make it erupt in a fizzy chemical reaction! This erupting black hole science experiment will be a hit with your young space lovers.

BLACK HOLE MODEL CHEMISTRY EXPERIMENT

A black donut shaped black hole with gold glitter on it is in the midst of a chemical reaction with bubbles erupting from it. Overlay text says Erupting Black Holes Space Science For Kids

Disclaimer: This article may contain commission or affiliate links. As an Amazon Influencer I earn from qualifying purchases.
Not seeing our videos? Turn off any adblockers to ensure our video feed can be seen. Or visit our YouTube channel to see if the video has been uploaded there. We are slowly uploading our archives. Thanks!

Are your kids as obsessed with space as mine? I thought it might be a phase but it seems to only be intensifying over the years for my young aspiring astrophysicist. In just a couple of weeks he will be attending space camp and that means space is really on our minds at the moment.

This activity is also a wonderful alternative to our Black Hole Bath Bombs project we did as part of our Stephen Hawking Unit Study in our Famous STEAMists Workbook. It is a little more user friendly for our younger kids, and this type of chemistry experiment is always a huge hit with kids.

Erupting Black Hole Chemistry Experiment Supplies

Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) – 1 box
Gel Food Colouring – Black
1/4 cup of water
Silicone Donut Mold
Glitter and Stars (optional but add to the sparkly star effect)*
Large deep sided tray or dish
Vinegar
Dish soap
Pipette or syringe
Disposable gloves
Large mixing bowl
Small cup or dish

This recipe will make 6 Black Holes.

*A NOTE ON GLITTER – Glitter has become very controversial due to the negative impacts on the environment, but I know many of you still love a little sparkle in your projects! When it comes to glitter, I believe it is always optional. None of my projects require it. But if you decide you do want a little sparkle and shine in your creations, I highly recommend using a biodegradeable glitter. There are lots of fantastic options available.

How to Make Black Holes

In a large mixing bowl add a box of baking soda (500g). Add a teaspoon of black gel food colouring.

Mix it together with a spoon or gloved hands. A tablespoon at a time, add water and mix it together. Stop when it forms a thick paste, almost like wet sand. For us this was at approximately 1/4 cup.

If necessary, add more food colouring to ensure you have a nice dark colour and not grey.

Mix in some glitter if you wish, we also sprinkled some glitter into our mould.

Pack the mixture into the silicone donut mould, filling them to about the half way point.

Place the tray in the freezer until frozen solid. We left ours overnight.

Black donut shaped black holes with gold glitter and stars sprinkled on top sit on a white background. Overlay text says Erupting Black Holes Space Science Chemistry for Kids

Erupting Black Holes – Conducting the Chemistry Experiment

Once frozen solid, set out your large bin with high sides. Carefully pop out the black holes from the silicone mould and place them in the bin.

Sprinkle dish soap around the bin, this help create even more bubble action when the reaction starts. You can also sprinkle some extra sparkly stars and glitter in the bin for an even better space feel.

Fill a small cup or dish with vinegar.

Invite your kids to fill the syringes (a great fine motor coordination and strengthening exercise), and then squirt the black holes.

Enjoy the erupting, bubbly reaction!


See the Experiment in Action

Kids love stuff that erupts and bubbles! Just check out this video of us erupting our Black Holes.


The Science Behind Erupting Black Holes Chemistry Experiment

This experiment is a simple acid-base reaction between baking soda and vinegar. We did a similar experiment with our Hatching Dinosaur Eggs and Erupting Rainbow Rocks. This type of chemistry reaction is so easy to do and always a hit with kids.

Have fun explore space and science!

A child holds a syringe squirting vinegar onto a black hole made of baking soda creating a chemical reaction.

MORE SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS

Against a white background a mason jar has dark and light green liquids with bubbles in dark green going through the light green layer in a lava lamp style. Overlay text says How to Make a Lava Lamp
On a black background moon dough glows in a variety of colours - blue, green, orange, yellow and darker greens and blues. Overlay text says Rainbow Glow Moon Dough
Skittles Experiment for the Science Fair inspired by Starry Night