STREAM Activity: Rapid Rubber Egg Experiment

Are you ready for this fun eggs-periment?

Activity best for children age 2 and up

This activity is a fun, new way to see chemistry in action during our every day life using household items. Just an egg and some vinegar is enough to cause a chemical reaction! The egg shell, being calcium carbonate (base), reacts with the acid in the vinegar, causing carbon dioxide to disperse. That’s all the bubbles you will see around the egg. This dissolves the egg shell right before our eyes! Not only does the shell dissolve but the egg enlarges as well! It’s incredible to see chemistry in action with just the food we can find in our kitchen.

Materials you’ll need:

Raw egg

Jar or glass

Vinegar

Food coloring (optional)

Guiding Questions:

What do you see after a day of the egg sitting in vinegar?

Do you notice anything different about the egg?

How does this egg feel compared to the egg you started with?

Directions

Step 1

Carefully place an egg inside a jar or glass.

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Step 2

Fill the jar/glass with vinegar until the egg is completely submerged. You also have the option to add a few drops of food coloring for a colored egg.

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Step 3

Leave the submerged egg for 2-3 days. Check back every day and observe the egg. Do you notice any changes from the day before?

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Step 4

Carefully remove the egg from your container and run it under tap water. Gently rub off the remaining shell.

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Step 5

Once your egg is all cleaned up, it is ready for more observation. You can drop the egg from 1-2 inches in the air and watch it bounce! Be sure to do this in another container or plate as it can get messy. After a few big drops, watch your egg go… SPLAT!

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Grown Ups-Are you looking for more ways to extend your child’s learning? Check out these extension activities to build upon today’s STREAM activity!

Reading Connections:

Science You Can Eat by Stefan Gates

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Real-World Connections:

Things around us can change very quickly. That is something life has in common with chemistry! Simply cooking a meal with your little ones would be a great way for them to witness every day chemistry.