Transform a hard-shelled raw egg into a squishy, translucent, bouncy egg! You will learn how the acid in vinegar reacts with the calcium carbonate in eggshells to dissolve them.

Tools

• glass or jar
• spoon

Materials

• raw chicken eggs (1-4)
• white vinegar (enough to cover eggs, approx. 2 cups per egg)
• flashlight (1)

Safety

• Adult supervision is required.
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling raw eggs to avoid salmonella.
• Be careful not to drop the eggs, as they can create a mess.
• Adult supervision required for sharp objects.
• Wash hands thoroughly after handling raw egg.
• Do not eat or drink any materials used in this project.
• Adult supervision required for children under 8.

Steps

1. Carefully place one raw egg into a glass or jar.
2. Pour white vinegar into the glass until the egg is completely covered.
3. Observe the egg immediately to see small bubbles forming; this is the carbon dioxide gas being released as the acid reacts with the shell.
4. Leave the egg to soak undisturbed for 24 hours.
5. After 24 hours, carefully remove the egg from the vinegar using a spoon.
6. Gently rub off any remaining bits of white shell under a stream of water or while submerged in the vinegar, being very delicate as the egg is now held together by a thin membrane.
7. Once clean, observe the translucent egg and notice how you can see the yolk inside.
8. Optional: Dim the lights and shine a flashlight through the egg to see a glowing effect.
9. Test the bounce by gently dropping the egg from a low height (about 1-2 inches) onto a flat surface. Do not drop it from too high, or the membrane will pop!