How to Make an Experiment With Corn Syrup

White Karo syrup is a type of corn syrup.
••• Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

Corn syrup is a form of liquid sugar derived from corn. It is an invert sugar, meaning that it doesn't crystallize. As a result, corn syrup is often a part of recipes for sweets like caramel, chocolate sauce and ice cream, because it will prevent sugar crystals from forming as the product cools. Because corn syrup is a cheap, everyday ingredient and yet has some very interesting properties, it's a great tool in science experiments for kids.

Density Experiment

    Set out three cups. Pour 1 cup of water into the first, 1 cup of corn syrup into the second and 1 cup of vegetable oil into the third. Add a few drops of food coloring to the water to make it easier to see.

    Drop a grape into each cup. Make a note of which grapes sink and which float. Repeat the experiment with a small plastic block and a nickel.

    Determine which liquid is the most dense and which is the least dense, based on your findings. Pour the three containers of liquid into a larger container. They will separate into layers according to density, and you will be able to tell if your prediction was correct.

Osmosis Experiment

    Place two eggs in a large container and cover them with white vinegar. Cover the container and leave it in the fridge for 24 hours. The vinegar will eat away the shell of the egg, leaving a thin, permeable membrane around the yolk and white.

    Remove the eggs from the vinegar with a large spoon. Place one in a small container of water and another in a small container of corn syrup. Refrigerate the eggs for 24 hours.

    Observe how the eggs have changed. Because water can move through the egg membrane and sugar cannot, water will have moved out of the egg and into the corn syrup to create an equilibrium between the water inside and outside of the egg.

    Remove the shrunken egg from the corn syrup and leave it in the refrigerator in a container of water for 24 hours. It should return to its previous state.

Mucous Experiment

    Add 3 tsp. powdered gelatin to 1/2 cup of boiling water. Let it soften, then stir it with a fork.

    Stir in 1/4 cup of corn syrup. Add more water, if necessary, to create a mucous-like consistency.

    Stir the mixture with the fork and observe the long, sticky protein strands that form. These sticky, stretchy strands of mucous are similar to snot, which helps protect your respiratory system from pollen, dust and other irritants.

    Things You'll Need

    • Water
    • Food coloring
    • Corn syrup
    • Vegetable oil
    • Cups
    • Grape
    • Nickel
    • Small plastic block
    • Large container
    • Two eggs
    • White vinegar
    • Large covered container
    • Large spoon
    • Small containers
    • Cup
    • Gelatin
    • Fork

Related Articles

Science Projects With Vinegar & Egg Shells
Raw Egg & Vinegar Experiments
Osmosis Egg Experiments
Why Does an Egg Shrink in Different Solutions?
Osmosis Science Activities for Kids
Why Does an Egg's Shell Dissolve When Put in Vinegar?
What Part of the Plant Makes Seeds?
Experiment on Putting an Egg in Vinegar
Science Project Egg Experiments
Toothpaste Experiment With Eggs
Kids' Density Experiments With Salt, Water & Eggs
The Steps for a Science Fair Project on the Rubber...
How to Float an Egg in Water
Vinegar & Water Experiments
How to Drop an Egg Without Breaking It by Using Straws...
At Home Science: Naked Egg Experiment
Egg Osmosis Experiments With Distilled Water & Salt...
Density Experiments for Elementary
Science Experiment for Kids With Raw Egg and Vinegar
Cool Science Experiments With Eggs

Dont Go!

We Have More Great Sciencing Articles!