Dissolvable Eggshells

Overview:

Students will learn how to dissolve eggshells in vinegar while also learning about how acids and bases react with each other.

Time: 

Active participation time: 10 minutes 

Total time: 48 hours

Lesson Materials:

*You can use the document in the link below to either: tailor the experiment to your needs or to have a printable version of this lesson plan*

Dissolvable Eggshells Lesson Plan

The plan is editable and printable. Copy the Google Doc in your own drive and make edits or you can just print.

Dissolvable Eggshells Lesson Video:

Learning Objectives:

  1. Create “naked” eggs
  2. Test how the egg shells react to different liquids
  3. Observe how vinegar reacts with egg shells
  4. Identify acids and bases as well as the common items in their life that are acids and bases
  5. Identify how this experiment relates to their life and their body

Materials Needed:

  • 3 clear cups
  • 3 raw eggs
  • White vinegar
  • Water 
  • Salt
  • Food coloring (optional)
  • Sugar (optional for variation of the experiment)
  • Carbonated water (optional for variation of the experiment)
  • Food coloring (optional for variation of the experiment)

Experimental Methods:

Part 1, Day 1, 8-12 hours before beginning or Preparation

  1. Put 3 different liquids (water, salt water, and white vinegar) into 3 cups and gently place the eggs inside. Do you think that each liquid will have a different reaction with the egg shell? How will each liquid affect the egg shell?
  2. Check on the eggs occasionally (every few hours). What is happening to the egg shells? Why do you think this is happening?

Part 2, Day 2

  1. Continue to check on the eggs throughout the day (every few hours).

Part 3, Day 3 

  1. After 48 hours, the reaction is complete. What happened to the egg shells? Why did this happen? Did the different liquids have different reactions with the eggs?
  2. Explain pH levels of acids and bases. What do you think will happen when we combine an acid, such as white vinegar, with the egg shell which is basic? 
  3. Explain the connection between this experiment and teeth. 

Variations:

  1. Different liquids can be used such as corn syrup, sugar water, soapy water, or carbonated water. 
  2. Food coloring can be added to the liquids at the beginning to create colored eggs.

Project Extension Suggestions

  1. Vary the liquids that the eggs are placed in. 
  2. Add food coloring to the liquids and see what happens.
Optional Demonstrations & Visuals
Explain different examples of acids and bases. Explain the pH levels of eggshells, white vinegar, and water. Show materials and eggs throughout the experiment. Explain the connection between this experiment and why it is important to brush your teeth.


Questions to Think About:

  1. What are other liquids we can use for this experiment?
  2. Why do you think that certain liquids did not change the eggshells?
  3. Why did the vinegar have a reaction with the eggshell?
  4. What are other acids and bases that you can think of?
  5. What items in your home are acids and which items are bases?

Chemistry:

White vinegar is an acid, whereas the shell of an egg contains molecules of calcium carbonate, which is a base. White vinegar reacts with the eggshell and breaks it down because white vinegar is an acid. The white vinegar has a chemical reaction with the eggshell, breaking it up into calcium and carbonate. The calcium floats away, but the carbonate reacts with the white vinegar to produce the carbon dioxide bubbles you see in the glass. Therefore, the white vinegar breaks down the eggshell, leaving the inside of the egg intact.4

Society:

You can relate this to your life if you think about your teeth as the egg shells. When you don’t brush your teeth often, bacteria can grow in your mouth. When you eat, this bacteria combines with the food in your mouth, creating acid, similar to the white vinegar in our experiment. This acid can break down the outer protective layer of your teeth called the enamel. Similar to how the vinegar breaks down the shell of an egg when the egg is exposed to the vinegar for a long period of time, the bacteria and the acid it creates can break down your enamel if you don’t brush your teeth for a long period of time.6

Logistics:

STEAM Subjects: 

Science (Chemistry) 

Science Vocabulary: 

acids, bases, liquids, reaction

References:

  1. Chatterton, Crystal, and Green Paige. Awesome Science Experiments for Kids: 100 Fun Steam Projects and Why They Work! Rockride Press, 2018.
  2. Citro, Asia. The Curious Kids Science Book: 100 Creative Hands-on Activities for Ages 4-8. Innovative Press, 2015.
  3. DaveHax, director. Egg Shell Science Experiment – Dissolves in Vinegar. Youtube, 13 May 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I5bhUwm1t0.
  4. Johnson, Adam. “Why Does an Egg’s Shell Dissolve When Put in Vinegar?” Sciencing, 24 Apr. 2017, www.sciencing.com/eggs-shell-dissolve-put-vinegar-10000674.html.
  5. Learning Junction, director. Acid and Base | Acids, Bases & PH | Video for Kids. Youtube, 13 June 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5Mq_cL9Bck.
  6. Morin, Amanda. “The Egg in Vinegar Experiment Teaches About Dental Health.” ThoughtCo, 17 Apr. 2019, www.thoughtco.com/egg-in-vinegar-dental-health-activity-2086864.