‘Eureka!’
So said the great Archimedes in his bathtub, as he stumbled upon what is now widely known as the ‘Archimedes Principle’, one of the fundamental tenets of Modern Physics.
On that note, the person who made the very first ‘egg that bounced’, might have uttered the very same word!
Tell your child you can get them to create a rubber egg that actually ‘bounces’, and watch their eyes light up in fascination! It’s true. We at Kangaroo Kids aim to show you, how a modest chemical reaction that you create in the environs of your house itself, can create an ‘egg that bounces’!
Ready to shed light on this intriguing egg in vinegar experiment, more popularly known as the ‘Bouncy Egg Experiment’?
Let’s go – or should we say, Let’s ‘Bounce’?
Table of Contents
- The Bouncy Egg Experiment – An Egg in Vinegar Experiment
- The Egg in Vinegar Experiment: How it Works
The Bouncy Egg Science Experiment – An Egg in Vinegar Experiment
The very thought of an ‘egg in vinegar’ seems to provide a sense of surprise, right? That being said, if you’re looking for an experiment that will create the infamous ‘rubber egg’, you’ve certainly come to the right place!
Read on, to explore the fine nuances of the egg in vinegar experiment, that will be sure to leave your kids enthralled. Besides bouncing that egg, of course!
What you Need
One of the most famous egg experiments needs the fewest ingredients!!
- 1 Egg
- A glass
- Gloves
- Vinegar
The Instructions
Egg experiments like this one are easy to follow for kids. Begin by showing your kids exactly how ‘fragile’ that egg is. The best way to do this would be by demonstrating the breaking of another egg. Then ask them questions like ‘What do you think will happen, if I put this egg in vinegar?’
The Steps
Step 1
- You want to take the egg and gently place it in the glass.
- Then, pour the vinegar on top of the egg so that it is entirely covered.
Step 2
- Keep the egg in vinegar in a designated place.
- Keep checking on the egg every day for 2-3 days. Tell your child to observe when it starts looking a tad ‘different’. When it appears translucent, you know it’s time to move on to the next step!
Step 3
- Take out the egg from the vinegar, and place it under some tap water.
- As the water is flowing on top of the egg, gently peel away the layer of skin on the outside. Note: You want to remember here that it is still an ‘egg that is raw’.
- Have your child observe the texture of the egg, and get them to tell you if it feels ‘rubbery’ or ‘soft’. If they confirm the same, you know you are on the right path!
Step 4
- Have your little one drop the egg from a few centimetres above a plate.
- If that egg bounces, you know that your Bouncy Egg Experiment has been a whopping success!
The Egg in Vinegar Experiment: How it Works
Egg Experiments like this one, just like plenty other scientific experiments out there, occur as a result of a chemical reaction. In this case, of course, it’s the chemical reaction between the outer layer of the egg, and the vinegar.
How it works is like this:
- There is ethanoic acid in the vinegar that reacts with the calcium carbonate in the eggshell. A product of this reaction is carbon dioxide, that can be seen as tiny bubbles that form on the eggshell.
- It is over the passage of time that this chemical reaction dissolves the erstwhile ‘hard’ eggshell, and we are left with a ‘thin’ outer membrane that holds the raw egg yolk inside.
- Needless to say, this egg membrane might be thin but it is strong enough to allow the egg to be dropped from a modest height, without breaking it.
Cool Fact: This egg membrane is ‘semipermeable’, which means that water can pass through it via the process of ‘osmosis’. However, substances that are dissolved in the water, cannot. It is through this process of osmosis itself, that the vinegar has dissolved the calcium in the egg’s shell. Of course, it cannot get through the egg membrane!
At Kangaroo Kids we firmly believe that science experiments of all kinds are a fun way for children to learn more about the world around them, and how it works. We hope that this simple egg in vinegar experiment will help them take a more avid interest in the field of Science. So, what are you waiting for? Kickstart your very own Bouncy Egg Experiment, by placing that egg in vinegar, thereby helping your child create their very first rubber egg!
