Results and Conclusion

Question

Step 1. Place a raw egg carefully in a clear jar or cup

Step 2. Pour enough vinegar in the cup to completely submerge the egg.

Step 3. Add in a few generous drops of food coloring and stir gently. To create Rainbow Rubber Eggs make a rubber egg for each color of the rainbow.

Step 4. Observe the eggs each day. The vinegar will dissolve the egg shell over the course of several days. As the shell dissolves it will begin to bubble.

Step 5. After about 3-5 days remove the egg from the vinegar and place it in a bowl of water. Gently rub away the shell to reveal the membrane that lies just below it.

Step 6. Bounce your egg…but not too hard! The egg will now be bouncy and rubbery but it is still raw on the inside. Press it and bounce to test just how rubbery it is but beware, it will still break! Make sure you break at least one to see what the egg looks like inside!

Answer 1

Results and Conclusion

Results: After following the steps outlined in the experiment, the following observations were made:

1. Initial Setup: A raw egg was submerged in vinegar, and food coloring was added. The egg displayed a uniform coating of color, making it visually appealing.

2. Dissolution Process: Over the course of 3-5 days, the eggshell gradually dissolved, evidenced by the appearance of bubbles on the surface of the egg. This reaction indicated that the acetic acid in the vinegar reacted with the calcium carbonate in the eggshell, breaking it down.

3. Membrane Revealed: Upon removing the egg from the vinegar and rinsing it with water, the outer shell was easily rubbed away, revealing the translucent membrane underneath. This membrane had a slightly rubbery texture and maintained the shape of the egg.

4. Bouncing Test: The egg was gently bounced, demonstrating its rubbery properties. The bounciness varied depending on how hard it was dropped, but it consistently retained its shape and form until a sufficiently strong impact caused it to break. The interior of the egg was still liquid, confirming that the egg remained raw.

Conclusion: The experiment effectively demonstrated the chemical reaction between vinegar and the eggshell, leading to the dissolution of the shell and the formation of a rubbery egg. The process provided visual evidence of the chemical changes occurring and illustrated principles of acid-base reactions and the nature of egg structure. The successful creation of rubbery eggs also showcased the potential for educational exploration of materials and their reactions.

Participants were encouraged to handle the eggs carefully due to their fragility, and breaking at least one egg revealed the expected raw interior, fulfilling the experiment's design to engage with both the physical and chemical properties of the egg. Overall, this hands-on experiment served as an engaging way to explore scientific concepts while emphasizing safety and care in handling delicate materials.