It's Spring and that means Easter is almost here! Before you boil all of your eggs, try out this neat Egg-speriment. It's fun, easy and only a tiny bit smelly.
You will need:
3 large eggs (you can use as many as you want but I would suggest at least 3, in case one breaks)
3 small tupperware containers and covers (you can use 1 large container just make sure the eggs won't touch)
White vinegar
Directions:
1) Discuss how the egg looks now. Is it hard or soft? What color is it? Record everyone's answers.
2) Put each egg in a container and add the vinegar until it is covering the entire egg. Place the cover on the container and place it in the refrigerator.
3) Ask your children to predict what they think will happen. Will it get bigger or smaller? Will the egg stay white? Is the egg going to stay hard or become soft? Again, record the answers.
4) Leave the egg in the container for 3 days.
5) Take the egg out of the vinegar and pass it around (CAREFULLY!!) for everyone to feel. Discuss what happened to the egg. Whose prediction was correct?
6) If one of the eggs has not already broken, gently break the egg and see what is inside.*
7) Let us know about your Egg-speriment and share any others you might have.
The acid in the vinegar eats away the calcium in the shell, leaving the translucent membrane. The membrane keeps the egg's shape.
To extend the activity, add a few drops of food coloring to the containers after the shell has dissolved and see if the egg changes color.
*Remember to thoroughly clean all of the surfaces and hands that have touched the egg.
