Activity Title: Peel a Raw Egg
Age Group(s):
- School Age
DESCRIPTION:
Ever wondered if you could peel a raw egg? In this activity, you’ll learn how to make the shell of a raw egg disappear while keeping the egg intact. Go a step further and see if you can make the egg bounce!
What do I need?
For this activity, you will need the following items:
1. An egg
2. Regular white vinegar
3. A glass jar with lid
How do we do it?
1. Place the egg in the jar and pour enough vinegar to completely cover the egg. Cover the jar
2. The egg may float at first but it should sink to the bottom of the jar.
3. After a few minutes, you will notice bubbles begin to form on the egg. Exciting! These are carbon dioxide gas bubbles - Fun fact: carbon dioxide is the same gas that makes drinks fizzy.
4. Place the jar in the fridge; after 24 hours carefully pour out the vinegar and replace with fresh vinegar.
5. Place the jar back in the refrigerator for about a week.
6. One week later, retrieve the jar from the fridge and pour out the vinegar. You’ll notice the egg is slightly larger – this is because the egg has absorbed some vinegar through its membrane.
Fun Fact: this process called osmosis.
7. Next, very carefully rinse the egg with water, the egg shell will peel off while the egg remains intact. Voila, you have a naked egg!
8. The egg will feel rubbery to the touch and should have a little bounce; try bouncing it from about an inch off the table.
What is the science behind it?
Vinegar contains acetic acid. Eggshells contain calcium carbonate (a base). When the calcium carbonate in the eggshell mixes with the acetic acid in the vinegar, it causes a chemical reaction which results in the formation of a water-soluble compound called calcium acetate, and carbon dioxide (CO2) gas (remember: carbon dioxide is what makes drinks fizzy!). The eggshell with then dissolve leaving the inner membrane intact, thus creating a naked egg.
