Dissolving egg shell experiments don’t just provide fun at-home science projects, they also allow students to learn about chemistry, physics and ecology. For example, in environmental science, students might learn about the effects of acid rain on buildings or public landmarks. The calcium carbonate in egg shells is the same as the calcium carbonate in some statues. When vinegar reacts with egg shells, it mimics the actions of acid rain on these statues.
- Vinegar
- Plastic container
- Eggs
- Spoon
You can perform additional experiments on the naked eggs, such as experiments on selective permeability.
Pour a cup of vinegar into a large plastic container.
Place at least two eggs inside the vinegar. Try to keep the eggs from touching each other. At this point, you may notice that bubbles start to form around the egg shells. When the calcium carbonate in the egg shells reacts with the acetic acid in the vinegar, carbon dioxide releases in the form of a gas, in addition to water and a calcium ion.
Add more vinegar, if needed, to completely cover the eggs. Cover the container with plastic wrap.
Pull the eggs out of the vinegar, after 24 hours, using your spoon. Be careful not to crack the eggs. Empty the container and fill it again with fresh vinegar. Place the eggs in the fresh vinegar.
Pull the eggs out of the vinegar, after 24 hours, using your spoon. At this point, the outer shell of the eggs should have completely dissolved, leaving only a thin membrane holding the eggs together.
Create a report or presentation about why the egg shells dissolved in the vinegar, if your experiment calls for a report or presentation.
Things You'll Need
Tips
References
Tips
- You can perform additional experiments on the naked eggs, such as experiments on selective permeability.
About the Author
Donny Quinn has been writing professionally since 2002 and has been published on various websites. He writes technical manuals for a variety of companies, including restaurants, hotels and salons. Quinn is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English at Georgia State University.
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