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Awesome Egg Experiments for Kids

March 19, 2023 By Emma Vanstone 12 Comments

Easter is just around the corner, so I’ve put together a collection of egg experiments perfect for this time of year. Eggs are great for experiments as they are inexpensive, easily available and very versatile. We try not to waste food at Science Sparks, but for most of these ideas, you can still eat the actual egg. However, be careful if you have a child with allergies.

Don’t forget to check out my ever-growing selection of printable science experiments too!

Image of an egg shell bridge, egg drop STEM challenge and egg with no shell

Egg Experiments for Kids

Egg drop experiment.

My Humpty Dumpty themed egg drop experiment is great fun. We used sealable sandwich bags filled with different materials to put the egg inside, but another way to do it is to make a parachute or create a container for the egg and drop that.

Egg drop experiment. Image shows 3 boiled eggs with faces and 3 sandwich bags filled with different materials.

Unbreakable Egg Experiment

Find out how to make an unbreakable egg . All you need is an egg, and some cling film. We’re sure you’ll be surprised at how strong an egg actually is!

Image shows an egg with cling film wrapped around it and a child squeezing the egg!

Egg Experiments with Vinegar

Find out How to make an egg shell disappear ! This is like magic! Watch the shell disappear before your eyes. Just be careful not to break the membrane like we did.

Once you’ve dissolved the shell with vinegar, you can make the egg bounce ! Be warned, it might break!

Naked Egg - egg with no shell in a child's hand

How to shrink an egg

Make an egg shrink and then expand, but first, you’ll have to remove the shell to expose the delicate membrane. This is a brilliant visual way to learn about osmosis !

Two eggs with no shell in egg cups. One has been made to expand by placing in water and the other has shrink after being left in a concentrated sugar solution.

How strong is an eggshell?

Do you think an eggshell is strong or weak? This activity uses eggshells to make a bridge that books can be piled on top of. The shells might be stronger than you think!

STEM Challenge - eggshell bridge. Image shows a bridge built from half egg shells.

Egg in a Bottle

Find out how to force an egg into a small bottle or jar. Watch as the egg drops into the jar like magic. This clever activity works because of differences in air pressure.

Egg in a bottle experiment. Image shows a boiled egg with the shell removed sitting on the top of a glass jar.

Meringue Experiments

Find out what happens when you whisk egg white and why. This one is a bit messy but lots of fun and very yummy!

Meringue - made from eggs served with raspberries

Once you’ve perfected your meringue skills, have a go at making a Baked Alaska. This clever dessert allows you to put ice cream in the oven without it melting .

The image below is taken from Snackable Science

Image of a baked alaska dessert for an egg themed science experiment

Make an Egg Float

Do you know how to make an egg float and We don’t mean by letting it go bad!

egg floating in a jar of salt water

Eggs as Teeth

Did you know eggs are great for learning about teeth as the shell is made from a similar material? Try soaking eggs in vinegar, coffee or tea to discover what happens.

Materials for staining eggs - vinegar, coffee and coke,

Egg Vehicles

Create a vehicle to protect an egg in a collision . You could use LEGO, K’Nex or any other materials you like.

crash test eggs for a STEM Challenge. image shows a K'nex car with a boiled egg passenger

Egg Experiments eBook

My new egg experiments eBook contains five brilliant egg investigations that are easy to follow and also great fun.

egg experiments eBook cover

More egg experiments

Find out how to tell if an egg is boiled or not by spinning it.

Can you think of any more Egg Experiments for us?

If you’ve got an egg decorating competition coming up, these easy decorated eggs might be helpful, too!

Awesome Egg Experiments - 10 fantastic #kitchenscienceexperiments for kids

Last Updated on April 30, 2024 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

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February 16, 2013 at 9:47 pm

The egg is only recognizable from its shape without the shell there. Some brilliant ideas here.

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February 24, 2013 at 1:16 pm

We used to fry an egg in class to show the children the change of state from liquid to solid with the addition of heat. Can you believe that most of them had never seen a egg frying so it was a real novelty (they were 11!!).

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February 24, 2013 at 2:39 pm

These look like fun egg experiments. We have done a few of them but not all. Thanks for sharing.

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February 27, 2013 at 6:17 am

Some of these I’ve been wanting to do for awhile, but some are new to me…great ideas all! Pinning to my Preschool Science board to try with my kiddo soon!

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February 28, 2013 at 12:44 pm

Ok, these ideas are just TOO COOL!!! I can’t wait to try these with my own kiddos! Thanks so much for sharing over at Sun Scholars. I am featuring this post at this week’s party… YIPEE!!! AND… it’s been pinned to my Best Of board on Pinterest, and sharing on Facebook later this morning. Love what you are doing here at Science Sparks! xoxoxo

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March 05, 2013 at 4:34 am

We just did one of the egg-periments! We did the bioled egg on a bottle and it got sucked right in! Thanks for sharing. we cant wait to do more! -Reshama

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March 10, 2013 at 9:40 pm

One of my favorite experiments as a kid was dropping an egg from a high height and trying to not make it break.

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April 23, 2013 at 3:56 am

Thanks for sharing!! I was not aware of all the neat things you can do with an egg… I know my students will love these!!

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March 02, 2015 at 9:41 pm

How does changing water temperature affect the buoyancy of an egg?

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August 29, 2018 at 8:32 am

After learning a little bit about what’s inside that egg

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March 21, 2015 at 4:24 pm

A la vez, estos signos tienden a tener avatares emocionales constantes, aunque, en el caso de Escorpio, es el que mejor los sabe esconder.

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November 01, 2015 at 11:50 pm

We did cells with jello please do this project now and coment below thank-you

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Go Science Girls

20+ Fun Science Experiments with Eggs

  • July 4, 2020
  • Science Experiments

Eggs! Sounds delicious, right!? But eggs are not only used to show our culinary skills in the kitchen or to satisfy our taste buds but to our surprise, they work great to do science experiments that every young and little scientists in your home needs to try. Many simple, easy, and fun experiments are possible to do with eggs.

Here in this post, we would like to help you find various easy, simple, and fun egg science experiments by compiling an exhaustive list of ‘Egg Science Experiments’. You just need to follow our Easy-to-Follow directions given below and explain to your little ones who begs you to repeat these experiments once they get to know the magical transform of the egg, which is done in the below mentioned egg science experiments. So, have look and enjoy!!

1. Colorful Rainbow Rubber Eggs

egg experiment with different liquids

Simple yet awesome colorful Rainbow Rubber Eggs. You can make this with available household items like eggs & vinegar – a must try experiment for kids at home. Check out this egg experiment here.

2. Egg in a Bottle

egg experiment with different liquids

Description: The title puts a big question mark on your face but believe, it is so easy and simple to perform and enjoy the magical results of this experiment.Egg in the bottle is a pretty cool experiment to the kids of all ages. Kids below 5 years can enjoy the experiment by watching the fascinating results but the kids above five years can actually understand the science behind the experiment. Though the experiment sounds simple and easy but it is absolutely not ideal to choose for any kind of science fairs.

You can find the complete and detailed description about the Egg Science Experiment by clicking on the link attached to the tittle in the same sentence.

3. Make an Egg float

egg experiment with different liquids

Description: We knew that the eggs sink to the bottom and our kids also might have observed this. But do the eggs float? Want to know the answer!? Then you must perform this easy and very simple experiment to show your little ones that the eggs do float. Kids below 6 years will be more excited to watch the exciting results of floating egg and would definitely ask to repeat the experiment. Whereas kids above 7 years can enjoy as well as understand the simple science behind the magic trick which makes the egg float.  

Click here to find a detailed explanation of ‘ Make an Egg Float ’ experiment.

4. Egg Shells as Teeth

egg experiment with different liquids

Have you ever imagined of an experiment with an egg shell? Most of you says, ‘NO’! Hope I am correct!! In the same way, we never thought of an experiment with eggshells and our tooth. Eggshells represent human teeth since these shells are made from the chemicals that form tooth enamel. This experiment help kids of all ages learn about importance of maintaining tooth health which is a common dental issue among now-a-days generation children. In addition, this experiment is best suitable for early year’s children because they learn why it is important to brush their teeth and after the experiment they find brushing activity fun and interesting!!

Here is the source for this easy and fun experiment: Tooth Decay Experiment with Egg Shells

5. Egg Science Experiment with Vinegar

egg experiment with different liquids

Make your children surprise with this magical experiment of Egg in Vinegar solution. This experiment does not take much time of your child’s leisure time. In fact, this neat activity helps your child to learn simple science with few ingredients either at home or at school. Sounds exciting right, I believe you and your child would have a nice learning time with this amazing experiment with egg.

You can find the detailed experiment here, just click here: Egg in Vinegar

6. Egg in Coke Science Experiment

egg experiment with different liquids

Coke is the highly consumed drink among children of all ages who prefer so much junk over healthy drinks and food. So far, you may have heard and performed many experiments with coke but this simple and fun experiment is more interesting!! Want to know why!? Just gather your children and perform this simple activity at your home, so that your children will also get to know about the surprising results of this experiment. Have a try!!

Have a look at the complete experiment and observe the results here: Egg in Coke Science Experiment

7. Eggs and Salt Water Science Experiment

egg experiment with different liquids

This is the best experiment to tell your children about the egg’s density and also helps you to demonstrate your kids about what happens when an egg is added to the salt solution. Does an egg float or sink in salt water!? Get the answer to this question by performing this easy and fun experiment!! Happy experiment!

How does the Egg and Salt Water Science experiment works? Just click here to find the complete experiment details, directions, and results: Eggs and Salt Water Science Experiment

8. Science Experiment with hard boiled eggs

egg experiment with different liquids

Experimenting with hardboiled egg sounds silly but there is a bit of interesting and simple science involved in this experiment. Do it with your kid and know the interesting results of this experiment. Pre-schoolers mostly enjoy this experiment which improves their motor skills.

Here the source link to find the detailed experiment description: Science Experiment with hard boiled eggs

9. Egg Drop Science Experiment

egg experiment with different liquids

This experiment is involved with a lot of fun and a simple science! Kids of all ages find it as a magic trick but it is actually a super fun STEM activity for students and pre-schoolers as well. Check out the link here to find how exactly the experiment works with your students or children. Click here for Egg Drop Science Experiment

10. The Shrinking Egg Science Experiment

egg experiment with different liquids

This super fun experiment is considered as another continuous and further step experiment to the ‘Egg in Vinegar experiment’. This experiment would be so informative and perfect to show preschool class kids. Kids would definitely be amazed to the fascinating reactions of the egg at the end of the experiment! Just give it a try.

Browse the link here to get the complete information on experiment with the egg. Click here .

11. Dinosaur Eggs Fizzy Science Experiment

egg experiment with different liquids

Pre-schoolers are always in love with tiny animal toys and among them dinosaurs will always be their fun topic and toy. In this experiment your little ones will definitely become more excited and interested to explore dinosaur egg science experiment.

Get the detailed information about the super-fun experiment, just click here: Dinosaur Eggs Fizzy Science Experiment

12. How strong is an egg shell?

egg experiment with different liquids

There are many shapes in this world and the shape of a structure defines how strong it is!! Does eggs, which actually seem fragile, hide any such shape inside it!? This would be a great experiment to show your kids about shapes and their strengths. Find out why shapes are taking the priority in this experiment by trying this at your home or school or science fair projects.

You can find the experiment complete guide at this source, just click here: How strong is an egg shell?

13. Oobleck Egg Science Experiment

egg experiment with different liquids

Have you ever came across the word ‘Oobleck’!? Hopefully not!! This is a magical ingredient to do an awesome and super fun experiment with eggs. This experiment would be a great classic student challenge to perform this activity. Does an Oobleck protects egg from breaking!? For the results, just click here to know the complete details of this simple Oobleck Eggscience experiment .

14. Crystal Egg Geode Science Experiment

egg experiment with different liquids

Want to bring a fun twist to your experiments with egg science!? Then this is the perfect one that makes your egg science experiment wonderful and beautiful. Also this is a safe and fun experiment for the pre-schoolers since this is a non-toxic and can be done in very little time. So, go ahead with the fun and kid-friendly egg science experiment.

Check out the fun Crystal Egg Geode Science Experiment here!!

15. Walking on Eggs Science Experiment

egg experiment with different liquids

Walk on eggs!? Yes, it is a bit surprising!! With this experiment, kids will get to know the eggs a bit more including little science magic, interesting investigations, and many more. This is another fun egg science experiment that keeps children engaged for hours. Pre-schoolers will definitely enjoy the egg science activity whereas the older kids will spend a quality time while performing the experiment and analyses the display of the results. So, why don’t we give it a try!

Here is the link attached to know the complete instructions about the experiment, walking on Eggs

  16. Comparing Eggs- Floating Eggs Science Experiment

egg experiment with different liquids

Do you want your kid to involve, discover, and explore more about egg experiments!? Then, this is the perfect one to set up at your home. Also, you will find this experiment is a great way to get your children involved and analyses their findings to the situations in reality. Great experiment! Try it with your kiddos.

Find the instructions and other complete details of the experiment here: Comparing Eggs- Floating Eggs Science Experiment

17. Experiment with eggs in different liquids

egg experiment with different liquids

Another egg science experiment that allows children to learn about three concepts at once. This experiment takes 24 hours’ time to see the end results but definitely it is worth to wait for the results because it makes a great visual experience. Also, adults can make use of this experiment to explain their kids a few things about the ingredients used in the experiment as well as works as a good science fair project. “DISSOLVING, EXPANDING, BOUNCING EGG SCIENCE EXPERIMENT” is the alternative name to this experiment.

Do you want to know how the experiment works!? Then, you must definitely find click here to get the details of the experiment: Experiment with eggs in different liquids

18. Silver Egg Science Experiment

egg experiment with different liquids

This is such a beautiful simple science project or experiment and best suits to practice Easter Science Experiments and Easter STEM activities. Children can perform this experiment anywhere like schools classes, home, etc. since it requires less time with a very less ingredients. Lower grade kids must be supervised by an adult while performing this activity.

Click here to see how to do the Silver Egg Science Experiment

19. Egg STEM Zip Line Science Experiment

egg experiment with different liquids

Many kids out there have had the experience of zip line travelling’s!! But do they ever think of egg parachutes or eggs travelling using zip lines? For children this would be a great experiment where kids learn how to set up an investigation for a fair test and also enjoys this fun experiment. Easy to perform and perfect for experiencing some EASTER fun.

Egg STEM Zip Line Science Experiment Consider this source to get the complete details of the experiment.

20. Volcano Egg Science

egg experiment with different liquids

Fun science suitable for all ages!! Kids experience an awesome science and craft in one experiment. With a very few ingredients in your kitchen, kids can enjoy lots of fun and this fun science and craft activity is perfect for toddlers, pre-schoolers, and older.

Want to try this experiment with your kids!? Then get to know about Volcano Science Experiment here.

21. Growing Seeds in Eggshells for Spring Science!

egg experiment with different liquids

 Children of all ages, Grab your eggs, empty it, and make the eggshells ready for growing seeds in eggshells!! This is a great experiment through which you can make your children know about earth science and different stages of seed growth.

Explore the cool science of ‘ Planting Seeds in Eggshells ’ by clicking on the link attached here and make your kids engaged in learning plant science.

Kids of all ages can do these simple science egg experiments either at home or school while enjoying the magical results. For the egg-citing results, kids use a very few ingredients from the kitchen in addition to an egg. Kids also love to complete the experiments with egg since they are simple, easy, and fun. Learning simple science while performing these activities with eggs is an added bonus to their little brains.

By performing the above mentioned experiments kids will completely get the simple science hidden in the eggs in an excellent way!! In addition, most of the above mentioned projects are simple, easy to perform, super fun, and quick. Hope you all have got enough information on the list of simple and super fun Egg Science Experiments. Give it a try to enjoy super cool egg science experiments.

Angela

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Education Corner

16 Best Egg Science Experiments

Photo of author

We’ve compiled a list of safe, egg-cellent and egg-citing egg experiments that can be easily conducted in school or at home.

This assortment of experiments, suitable for learners across all age groups can be done with basic materials, making them perfect for classroom settings. These hands-on, educational experiments will not only enhance your knowledge of biology and chemistry but will also foster a deeper appreciation for the wonder of everyday objects.

Whether you’re a teacher looking for a fun science project or a student looking for a new experiment to try, these fun egg experiments are sure to inspire and educate!

1. Egg in A Bottle

Egg in A Bottle

The egg in a bottle experiment is a classic and simple science experiment that can help students understand the concept of air pressure.

This experiment demonstrates how changes in air pressure can cause objects to move, and it can also be used to explore other scientific concepts, such as thermodynamics and gas laws.

Learn More: Egg in a Bottle

2. Crack the Egg Underwater

The crack the egg underwater experiment is a simple and fun way to teach students about pressure and material properties.

Since the egg is submerged in water, it doesn’t break. This experiment can help students understand the concept of pressure and how it can affect materials.

3. Make an Egg Float

Make an Egg Float

This experiment can teach students about the concept of density and how it relates to buoyancy. It can also be used to discuss how different materials have different densities, which can affect their behavior in water.

Learn more: How to Make an Egg Float

4. Glowing Egg

The glowing egg experiment is a fun and unique way to teach students about chemical reactions and the properties of light. The glowing egg experiment is a fun and educational way for students to learn about science and can inspire their curiosity about the world around them.

5. Dissolving, Expanding, Bouncing Egg

Dissolving, Expanding, Bouncing Egg

The Dissolving, Expanding, Bouncing Egg experiment is a fun and educational experiment that allows students to explore how materials can change when they are exposed to different substances.

Learn more: Dissolving, Expanding, Bouncing Egg

6. Make a Rubber Egg

This experiment can teach students about chemical reactions and how they can alter the properties of materials. The rubber egg experiment is a fun and engaging way for students to learn about science and can help them develop their experimental skills and scientific understanding.

7. Silver Egg

Silver Egg

The Silver Egg experiment shows the chemical reaction between vinegar and an eggshell in an easy fun way.

This experiment is an excellent approach to teach children or students to basic chemical ideas and to stimulate scientific interest and investigation.

8. Egg Strength Experiment

Egg Strength Experiment

One of the most popular eggshell strength experiments involves testing the load-bearing capacity of eggshells by applying weight to them until they crack.

This experiment is a great way to learn about the structure of eggshells and the factors that can affect their strength

Learn more: Egg Strength Experiment

9. Egg Balancing Experiment

Try to balance an egg on its end in this easy experiment. This is an excellent way to encourage children to think creatively and try out various strategies.

10. Egg Tower

The egg tower experiment is a fun and creative activity that challenges you to design and build a tower out of eggshells.

This experiment is not only a great way to test your creativity and problem-solving skills, but it also provides an opportunity to learn about the structural properties of eggshells and how they can be used to create stable and durable structures.

11. Naked Egg

The naked egg and vinegar experiment is a unique and exciting scientific experiment that involves putting the egg in a jar and observing how it reacts to being soaked in vinegar.

12. Egg Drop

The egg drop experiment is a classic science experiment that challenges you to design and build a contraption that can protect an egg from breaking when dropped from a height.

13. Egg Geodes- Crystal Growing Science

Egg Geodes- Crystal Growing Science

The Egg Geodes – Crystal Growing Science experiment is a fun and educational experiment that allows you to create beautiful crystal “geodes” inside real eggshells.

Learn more: Egg Geodes- Crystal Growing Science

14. Eggshell Planters

The egg planters experiment is a unique and creative way to repurpose eggshells and create a mini garden. This experiment involves planting small seeds inside the eggshells and watching as they grow and develop into plants.

It’s a fun and engaging activity that provides an opportunity to learn about gardening, plant growth, and sustainability.

15. Eggshell Mosaic

The egg mosaic experiment is a fun and creative way to use eggshells to make a colorful and unique piece of art. This experiment involves breaking the eggshells into small pieces and arranging them into a mosaic pattern on a piece of paper or canvas.

16. Tooth Decay with Eggshells

This experiment will look at the effects of various beverages on our teeth. This can be done by using hard-boiled eggs, which contain calcium and other comparable chemical components.

Similar Posts:

  • 68 Best Chemistry Experiments: Learn About Chemical Reactions
  • 37 Water Science Experiments: Fun & Easy
  • Top 100 Fine Motor Skills Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

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Use a giant cell—a de-shelled chicken egg—to explore the comings and goings of cellular substances.

  • Several chicken eggs
  • Large container, such as a wash basin or large bowl
  • Pencil and notepaper (or similar) for recording information
  • Several substances in which to soak or bury the de-shelled eggs, such as distilled water, dry salt or saltwater solutions, colored water, corn syrup, rubbing alcohol, cornstarch, or baking soda
  • Containers to hold the soaking eggs
  • Plastic wrap (not shown)
  • Masking tape and marker for labeling containers
  • Optional: nitrile or latex gloves for handling eggs, glass jars or other small objects to hold down floating eggs

Various household items and medications

  • Determine the treatments you’ll be using on your eggs, and prepare the substances you’ll need. You can make salt-water solutions by dissolving different amounts of table salt in containers of water (e.g. 100g, 200g, 300g of salt (NaCl) per liter). You can make solutions of food coloring by adding a few drops of each color into containers of water. Remember to label your containers as you work.

Use a scale to find the mass of each de-shelled egg before treatment. Record the result on notepaper.

Place one egg in a labeled container and cover it with your chosen treatment. (If the egg floats, you may use something to hold it down, such as a glass jar; see photo below.) Repeat for each of the remaining treatments. Be sure to set aside an untreated "control" egg. After taking its mass, cover the control egg with plastic wrap, and set it in a container alongside the treatment eggs.

egg experiment with different liquids

Place the treatment containers somewhere they can sit for at least a day at room temperature. Observe any changes that occur in the eggs during the first hour or so of soaking and record your observations.

Observe any changes in the color, size, or shape of your experimental eggs. Record your observations. Then, gently remove your sample eggs from their treatments to measure and record the mass of each one (see photo below). Remove the plastic wrap from the control egg and measure its mass too. Calculate the percentage change in mass for each egg by dividing the final mass by the starting mass and multiplying by one hundred percent.

egg experiment with different liquids

In a separate bowl, carefully dissect the egg by piercing the membrane. Record your observations.

How did each egg change? Did its mass increase or decrease? Do you see anything in common with the treatments that enlarged the eggs? Which treatments made the eggs shrink, and which did not?

In general, the most dramatic changes to the mass, color, and shape of the eggs will occur within the first 24 hours of the experiment. Eggs submerged in corn syrup will have lost considerable mass and have the appearance of flabby sacks. Eggs soaked in distilled water will gain mass and appear dramatically swollen. Eggs in dilute salt solutions will gain mass, and even those in very concentrated solutions might gain mass. Eggs buried in salt or other dry media should lose mass.

egg experiment with different liquids

The de-shelled eggs serve as good models of human cells. After the eggshell is removed, a thin membrane (actually, two membranes held tightly together) remains. This membrane, like those in human cells, is selectively permeable, allowing certain substances to pass through while blocking others.

Substances that can pass easily through the membrane of the egg will follow the principles of diffusion. They will move through the membrane from the side where they are at a higher concentration to the side where they are at a lower concentration (click to enlarge the diagram below). This movement will continue until the concentration on both sides is the same. While random molecular motion will cause individual molecules to continue moving back and forth across the membrane, the overall concentration on each side will remain in equilibrium, with equal concentrations on both sides.

The egg’s membrane is permeable to water. Movement of a solvent (such as water) across a semipermeable membrane from a less concentrated solution to a more concentrated one is called osmosis . When an egg is soaked in a solution that has a higher solute concentration (the relative amount of dissolved stuff) than the solute concentration inside the egg, water moves out of the egg and into the solution (see diagram below).

As a result, the egg loses mass and ends up looking deflated. An egg naturally has a lot of stuff inside, so the outside solution has to be very concentrated for this to happen. That’s the case when an egg is treated with corn syrup or buried in salt. By contrast, when an egg is treated with distilled water, or a dilute salt solution, the solute concentration is higher inside the egg than out, so the water moves into the egg, increasing its mass. It may be easier to think about osmosis in terms of water concentration rather than solute concentration. If the solute concentration is high, then the water concentration will be low by comparison.

Rubbing, or isopropyl, alcohol is at least 70% alcohol and therefore less than 30% water. This should cause water to move from the egg into the solution, and the egg should lose mass. In addition, the egg may appear white and rubbery. Alcohol that diffuses into the egg can denature the proteins, unraveling their three-dimensional structure and causing them to coagulate or join together. Egg proteins turn from translucent to white when they are denatured. In cooking, temperature is used to denature these proteins, but you may have noticed that alcohol has also "cooked" the egg and caused it to look hard-boiled.

The plasma membranes of your cells behave much like those of the egg. All of the trillions of cells in your body are like busy seaports with materials coming in and going out. Water, oxygen, and nutrients must pass through the plasma membrane into your cells, and wastes must leave. When the concentration of oxygen is higher in your lungs than it is in your blood, for example, the oxygen diffuses into red blood cells through capillary walls. Your flowing blood then transports that oxygen to your tissues. From there, the oxygen diffuses into other cells to be used in cellular respiration. Through a similar process, water in the stomach moves into the bloodstream and is then carried to the cells, where it supports a variety of essential bodily functions.

Predict what would happen if you placed the shrunken eggs in plain water overnight. Do the experiment and explain your results.

In this activity, not only can you measure how much material moved into or out of a treated egg, but you can also chemically determine whether molecules moved across the membrane. If you break the egg into a dish, or save some of the soaking solution, you can use chemical tests to see what’s there. For example, you can use Benedict’s solution to test for simple sugars, iodine to test for starch, or Biuret solution to determine whether or not protein exited the egg as it soaked.

When using this activity with large groups of students or multiple classes, have each group apply only one treatment, and then analyze the data collected from all groups. Having each small group design an experiment with one egg will allow you to do the activity with fewer eggs per class, and collecting several sets of data will enable students to identify any outliers.

This Snack is an excellent activity for introducing diffusion, osmosis, and the semipermeability of membranes and allows learners to engage in the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices. By collecting data from multiple classes, you can facilitate a discussion about what and how much data is necessary to count as evidence. Students can also use the evidence about what and how much material moves into and out of the egg to formulate a revisable model about how osmosis occurs and what might prevent or allow molecules to move through membranes. By incorporating related activities, such as the Cellular Soap Opera Snack, students can form a more complete conceptual model of the cell membrane and how molecules move along concentration gradients.

Note that it’s also important to discuss the idea that models such as this one have limitations. There are structural differences between the membranes of chicken eggs and human cells that result in differences in permeability. Some of the molecules that pass through the egg’s membrane in this activity would not pass through a human cell membrane because of their size (such as cornstarch) or their charge (such as Na + and Cl - from the salt). 

Related Snacks

Science activity that explores the properties of soap films and relates them to the properties of plasma membranes

COMMENTS

  1. How Liquids Affect Your Teeth : Egg Shells in Acid - Danny ...

    This is a classic investigation into the effect of different liquids on your teeth. If you can’t get easy to access to some teeth (ask your local tooth-fairy) – then an eggshell can provide a simple stand-in. Clean (cooked & boiled) chicken bones can also work well.

  2. The Naked Egg Experiment | Biology for Kids - Science Kiddo

    Make several naked eggs to perform a science experiment with eggs in different liquids and learn about osmosis. With one egg in corn syrup and other eggs in salt water or seltzer water, kids may be surprised how the naked eggs change!

  3. Awesome Egg Experiments for Kids - Science Sparks

    10 fun and easy egg experiments for kids. Includes making an unbreakable egg, making a baked alaska, an egg shell bridge and more!

  4. 20+ Fun Science Experiments with Eggs - Go Science Girls

    Experiment with eggs in different liquids Another egg science experiment that allows children to learn about three concepts at once. This experiment takes 24 hours’ time to see the end results but definitely it is worth to wait for the results because it makes a great visual experience.

  5. Eggsperiments | Royal Institution

    Make an uncooked egg bounce! ExpeRiment with different liquids to see what effect they have on eggs. Learn how the acid in household liquids like orange juice and vinegar react with eggshells and make them dissolve, leaving the inside of the egg intact.

  6. 16 Best Egg Science Experiments - Education Corner

    We’ve compiled a list of safe, egg-cellent and egg-citing egg experiments that can be easily conducted in school or at home. This assortment of experiments, suitable for learners across all age groups can be done with basic materials, making them perfect for classroom settings.

  7. Naked Egg: Biology & Chemistry Science Activity | Exploratorium

    Home. Science Snacks. Naked Egg. Put de-shelled eggs in different fluids and watch them swell and shrink. Use a giant cell—a de-shelled chicken egg—to explore the comings and goings of cellular substances. Tools and Materials. Several chicken eggs. Large container, such as a wash basin or large bowl. Vinegar. Scale.

  8. The Dissolving Egg Experiment - School District of Clayton

    Egg shells contain chemicals that are similar to the enamel in human teeth. We know that human teeth can decay if they are not cleaned or brushed each day. • Vinegar is a relatively strong acid. It can dissolve objects over time. • We chose three different liquids with different sugar content and acidity:

  9. Diffusion Experiments With Eggs - Education - Seattle PI

    Select different liquids to use in the experiments. Good options include tap water, salt water, corn syrup and another liquid of your choice. Finally, set aside four clear glasses...

  10. More info about— Eggsperiments - Royal Institution

    You can use the shell-less eggs you make from this experiment to do another activity which will let you shrink and expand the eggs by placing them in diferent liquids: http://bit.ly/nakedeggs. Watch a video of how to make a coloured bouncy egg, then try making one yourself: http://bit.ly/RubberEgg.