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General Chemistry Science Fair Project

Vinegar and the Rubbery Egg

Easy
Vinegar and the Rubbery Egg | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
Can vinegar turn a raw egg into a bouncy rubber ball? Place one raw egg in a jar of vinegar and a second in a jar of plain water. Over two to three days, the vinegar slowly dissolves the eggshell. Tiny bubbles form on the surface as the acid in the vinegar reacts with the calcium carbonate (the mineral that makes the shell hard). The water egg stays unchanged. When the shell is gone, the egg feels soft and rubbery. Hold it up to compare the two eggs side by side and see what the acid left behind.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that the vinegar (acid) will react with the calcium carbonate (base) in the egg shell, and the vinegar reacts with the proteins in the raw egg.

Method & Materials

You will place a raw egg into a jar and pour enough vinegar to cover the egg. Also place an egg in another jar and pour enough water in the jar to cover the egg. After 2-3 days, you will check the eggs.
You will need two eggs, vinegar, water and two jars that are large enough to hold the egg.

Results

The experiment showed that the acidic vinegar dissolved the egg shell, which is made up of basic calcium carbonate. The egg placed in water did not dissolve. The most interesting observation was that the egg became rubbery! The acidic vinegar changed (denatured) the proteins in the egg white to make it rubbery.

Why do this project?

This science project is fascinating because it demonstrates the chemical reaction between an acid and a base and shows how the acid can transform the egg's protein, making it rubbery.

Also Consider

Variations of this experiment could include testing different acids, such as lemon juice or orange juice, boiling the egg before adding it to the vinegar or adding baking soda to the vinegar before adding the egg.

Full project details

Additional information and source material for this project are available below.

Related videos

These videos explain the science behind this project and demonstrate key concepts used in the experiment.
Be prepared for a surprise when a raw egg soaks in vinegar! Discover the science behind this surprising chemistry experiment!
Add another variation to the rubbery egg experiment by adding a hard boiled egg to vinegar! What do you think will happen? Follow along with this video from the New Mexico Museum of Space History!
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