"Egg-speriment" Lab Instructions 
 

1. The young scientist should construct a Data Sheet on which to record their observations and measurements. 
2. Try to use scientific measurement but if using kitchen measure units can be converted using a conversion tool.
3. The materials you need to gather are:

• Two 1000 mL beaker (or large measuring cup)
• 1 graduated cylinder (or measuring cup)
• 1 triple beam balance (or kitchen scale that measures ounces)
• 1 piece of string/yarn (approximately 1 foot long)
• 1 metric ruler (if using ounces use inches)
• 2 eggs (raw)
• 1 piece of plastic wrap (enough to cover the beaker if you don't like the smell of the vinegar)
• 1 rubber band

4. Young scientist should include the dates observations are made on the recording sheet:

• Date: choose a start date for the lab experiment and enter it on the first line.

The second date should be two days after the first date. It takes 2 days for the eggshell to dissolve in the vinegar. If the egg is carefully removed from the container and rinsed under running water the shell can be completely removed. Just rub it.  Don't try to pull any pieces of the shell off the membrane.  It WILL tear!  All consecutive dates should be one day apart unless it runs through a weekend. This is acceptable and will not alter data in any way.

• The solutions are as follows:

Day 1 – vinegar

Day 2 – water

Day 3 – water with food coloring

Day 4 – salt water

Day 5 – light corn syrup

      

Note: The beginning volume each day should be enough to cover the egg in the beaker. I found that 200 mL worked well for medium sized eggs.

Note: The young scientist should provide detailed information about the egg. 
 

Conducting the Egg-speriment 
 

      Day 1

1. Young scientist should take a beginning circumference of the egg by wrapping a string tightly around the middle of the egg and placing the string on the metric side of the ruler. Young scientist should record this data on the recording sheet. **Young scientist should calculate the circumference consistently (in the same place) everyday.
2. Young scientist should take a beginning mass of the egg and record the data on the recording sheet.
3. Young scientist should pour 200 mL of vinegar in the beaker and gently add the egg.
4. Cover the beaker with wax paper and secure it with a rubber band to reduce odor and evaporation.
5. Young scientist should label the beaker with masking tape.
6. Another egg should be measured and place in plain water and remain in plain water to act as a control.  It should be measure daily too.

Day 2

1. Young scientist need to pour off the solution into a graduated cylinder to calculate an ending volume for day 1 and record it on their data sheet.
2. Remove the egg and gently rinse the egg. Pat dry with a paper towel.
3. Calculate an ending circumference using the string and ruler for day 1 and record on the recording sheet. * Remember to use the same part of the egg that you started with on day 1!!!!
4. Young scientist should calculate an ending mass and record on the recording sheet for day 1.
5. Young scientist should compare the beginning and ending mass to determine whether the egg displayed a gain or loss and record on the recording sheet.

 

NOTE: The ending circumference and ending mass for day 1 is the beginning

                circumference and beginning mass for day 2. This is the pattern the student

                should observe throughout the experiment. 
 

Repeat this procedure for the remaining 3 days of the experiment.