Simple science experiments for kids: Do you want show naked egg to your kids? Try this fun project by dissolving an eggshell into a glass of vinegar solution.
Try this simple activity which involves absolutely no complication but only fun. And you know what? There is no need to run around to shop for materials because you can find everything from your household items . Trust me, we tried this experiment couple of time in the last 15 days as kids kept on insisting to watch the reactions. Also, my little princess Tisha did not allow the result show and interrupted every time out of curiosity.
Dissolving the Eggshell from an Egg & Making Transparent Egg
What is required?
- Glass Jar
- Lid
- Vinegar (White)
- Egg
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- Place the egg in the glass jar
Make sure your jar is not heavy and let kids handle them easily. Ask them to place the egg into the glass jar. Ensure it does not break and provide help to kids. Preferably use a wide-mouthed glass so that easily hands can go inside. Also, there will be rooms for the egg to swell.
- Mix Vinegar Solution Now, take vinegar and transfer that to the jar until it covers the entire egg. Finally, add few more drops to make sure that eggs are floating. Initially, the egg will float when it is fresh and then sink.
The fun begins quickly after adding the vinegar to the jar and you can witness minute bubble formation on outer layer of the egg. This is due to the release of CO2 (carbon dioxide). Imagine the fizzy sound when opening any aerated juice. This is similar to that chemical reaction which happens n the jar.
- Close the jar and keep it aside for a maximum of 7 days
Osmosis takes places making the egg to swell and also the color of the eggshell fades from brown. A scummy layer is formed on the surface and it is good to change the Vinegar solution when you witness this layer formation. However, it is optional and does not bother if you forgot to do it or just don’t have time.
- It’s time to empty the vinegar from the jar and take the egg outside. Wash off the residual eggshell.
Wow! You can see the naked egg without eggshell. It is now soft like a sponge and light in weight. In case, the eggshells are hard to remove, then don’t panic it needs more days and some more vinegar. So wait with patience to enjoy watching and touching the naked egg soft as a sponge. 🙂
These are cool to look at and also you can find the intact membrane inside. It feels rubbery to touch and squeezing them gently adds fun. It is now possible to see through the lucid egg which contains the yolk. Also, they are seen floating on the top.
Replace your rubber ball with this shell-less egg and dropping from a height of one inch is safe. Yes, it bounces. Be prepared to clean the mess as well. It might turn out to be a mess if you mishandle or kids put more pressure out of excitement.
The reaction between an acid solution and a base can be demonstrated using this activity. The acetic acid present in vinegar reacts with the shell which is nothing but calcium carbonate. Therefore vinegar is acidic and eggshell is the base.
The reaction between acetic acid + calcium carbonate forms a compound that is soluble in water and named as calcium acetate. Along with this CO2 is released. Thus the eggshell gets dissolved and the inner membrane remains unaltered giving an appearance of an exposed egg.
Slowly add vinegar solution to the glass jar with egg to see the reaction. The appearance of CO2 begins and seen small bubbles.
Tisha could not understand the science but activity took part in the experiment. She is too small for the explanation part. She expressed interest to carefully take an egg from the refrigerator and drop in the glass jar. Then she added vinegar to the egg in the jar and closed the jar with the lid. She enjoyed watching the bubbles. She counted days and waited to take the egg out of the jar and wash to remove the residual shells. She was amazed at the texture of the egg and ready for a camera shoot. I am glad she is so involved but at the cost of breaking some eggs. Still, she enjoyed.
Therefore, we discussed the texture of the egg from the beginning of the experiment (hard) until the end (spongy). All the time during the discussion Tisha was busy meddling with the egg squeezing softly and bouncing on the floor.
However, Pritika being elder started asking questions of how and that led to learning a bit of chemistry and chemical reactions. Though she is not old enough to understand reactions but certainly gained knowledge about the science involved in this experiment. She got an idea about elements, molecule, etc. She now knows that elements make up the molecules and the entire world has elements in it.
We then discussed molecules, acids, base, and reactions. Also, she understood that lemon contains citric acid. Out stomach has some acids to digest food etc. Also, she understood that acid reacting with the base like baking soda will make a fizzy sound. She knows the uses of baking soda because of our “making of Anzac Biscuits” experiment. We also did the erupting volcano experiment a month ago which helped her to understand this one easier.
But today she saw vinegar reacting with a base other than baking soda and understood the chemical reaction. During the entire process, I explained to her about vinegar, its properties, and eggshell properties, etc. Also, told her how CO2 bubbles escaped, etc. This is my small initiative to expand her knowledge with practical experiments.
Do not view the activity as edible. As we have used vinegar to dissolve eggshell formation bacteria will not be a cause for concern. Egg absorbs the vinegar and this process is osmosis. However, we advise you to not use this egg in cooking.
Make sure that kids are not just supported with required materials to conduct the experiments posted on this site but also monitored and guided. Do not allow kids to do the experiment which you think is hazardous when compared to the kid’s maturity and age. Read more here for instructions.
We have extended this experiment to make colorful Rainbow Rubber Eggs
If you are interested in more dissolving egg experiments, refer to the below links:
- Making Naked Eggs | Explanatorium
- Bouncy Eggs | Childhood101
- How to Make a Naked Egg (video) | Imagination Station Toledo
- 20+ Science Experiments with Eggs
Or if you are just looking for a science project for upcoming easter, here are some:
Create your own Easter Egg shaped bubble wands (identify what shape bubbles will come out )
Do follow our Go Science Girls board on pinterest to know upcoming science experiments.
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