Add to Favorites
Make “Naked” Eggs
In this science experiment, kids dissolve the outside of a raw egg, leaving the rubbery, bouncy interior intact.
Egg shells contain calcium carbonate, which is a base. When combined with an acid, like vinegar, a chemical reaction causes the egg shell to dissolve completely. The same thing will happen with sea shells. (Try it!) Calcium carbonate is a compound of calcium, carbon and oxygen commonly found in shells, chalk, marble and limestone.
With the eggshell gone, kids can see what the inside of an egg really looks like.
Safety Notes
If you use an acid other than vinegar in this experiment, please take precautions to keep kids safe, including washing off the egg thoroughly before allowing children to touch it.
Materials
Instructions
Place a raw egg into a glass and completely cover it with vinegar. You will see bubbles forming almost immediately as the shell begins to dissolve. The bubbles are from the carbon dioxide gas being produced by an acid/base chemical reaction. Vinegar should completely dissolve the shell in about 2 days.
To speed up this reaction -- WITH ADULT SUPERVISION -- look for household products that contain stronger acids, such as Lysol® Toilet Bowl Cleaner, which contains hydrochloric acid. This acid will erode the shell in just a couple of hours!
Eventually the entire egg shell will dissolve, leaving just the translucent membrane that holds the raw egg together. (If you used a strong acid to erode the shell, be sure to carefully wash the egg before handling.)
Hold the egg up to a window or use a flashlight to get a good look at what the inside looks like. Gently hold it in your hands and explore how it feels.
