egg osmosis science experiment

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Egg and Vinegar Experiment: How-To Plus Free Worksheet

It’s so easy you’ll want to do it again and again.

You and your students are going to love the Egg and Vinegar Experiment. It’s an easy project you can complete in a few days, and it makes a good science fair experiment too. We asked 3rd grader Hazel from Baltimore, Maryland, to help us put this one to the test, and she did a great job. Be sure to check out her video for step-by-step instructions, and then keep reading to learn how to do the experiment on your own.

Also grab your free, printable Egg and Vinegar Experiment recording sheet when you fill out the form on this page.

How does the Egg and Vinegar Experiment work?

The Egg and Vinegar Experiment, also known as the “Naked Egg Experiment,” demonstrates osmosis. Placing an egg in vinegar triggers a reaction between the eggshell’s calcium carbonate and the vinegar’s acetic acid, producing carbon dioxide bubbles. As the acetic acid dissolves the eggshell over time, the semi-permeable membrane remains, permitting water molecules to enter via osmosis. This influx causes the egg to swell.

Check out this video tutorial of the experiment, featuring 3rd grader Hazel:

How do you do the experiment?

First, get your materials together..

You’ll need an egg, a graduated cylinder, and white vinegar.

Put your egg in the vinegar.

Pour white vinegar into a graduated cylinder. Fill it high enough so that your egg will be completely submerged. Gently add your egg.

Observe the egg.

Keep an eye on it for a couple of days to notice the changes. Then after a few days, you can remove the egg from the graduated cylinder.

Examine the results.

Pour out the vinegar and give your egg a gentle rinse. You can try bouncing the egg. Also take time to look for the yolk inside.

Break the egg.

After you’re done examining the egg, try breaking it to find the yolk. This will also help you find the egg’s membrane.

What does the Egg and Vinegar Experiment teach?

This experiment teaches several important scientific concepts: ADVERTISEMENT

Students learn about the movement of water molecules across a semi-permeable membrane from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. In this case, water moves from the vinegar solution into the egg.

Chemical reactions

Students observe a chemical reaction between calcium carbonate (present in the eggshell) and acetic acid (present in the vinegar), leading to the dissolution of the eggshell.

Structure and function

By removing the eggshell, students can observe the structure and function of the egg’s semi-permeable membrane, which allows certain molecules to pass through while restricting others.

Experimental procedure

Students gain experience in following a step-by-step experimental procedure, making observations, and drawing conclusions based on their observations.

Can this experiment be done for a science fair?

Absolutely! The Egg and Vinegar Experiment is not only educational but also visually captivating, making it an excellent choice for a science fair project. Students can explore variations of the experiment by changing variables such as the concentration of vinegar, the duration of immersion, or the temperature of the vinegar solution. Additionally, they can research the scientific principles behind the experiment and present their findings in a clear and engaging manner. Overall, this experiment offers a hands-on opportunity for students to learn about osmosis and chemical reactions while showcasing their creativity and scientific inquiry skills at a science fair.

Get your free Egg and Vinegar Experiment recording sheet:

Just fill out the form on this page to get instant access to your free, printable Egg and Vinegar Experiment recording sheet.

Looking for more science experiment ideas? Check out our  big list of experiment ideas here.

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Naked Egg (Dissolving Egg Shell) Experiment

• April 30, 2019
• 3-4 Year Olds , 5-6 Year Olds , Chemistry , Household Items , Popular

Simple science experiments for kids: Do you want show naked egg to your kids? Try this fun project by dissolving an eggshell into a glass of vinegar solution.

Try this simple activity which involves absolutely no complication but only fun. And you know what? There is no need to run around to shop for materials because you can find everything from your household items . Trust me, we tried this experiment couple of time in the last 15 days as kids kept on insisting to watch the reactions. Also, my little princess Tisha did not allow the result show and interrupted every time out of curiosity.

Dissolving the Eggshell from an Egg & Making Transparent Egg

What is required?

• Vinegar (White )

• Place the egg in the glass jar

Make sure your jar is not heavy and let kids handle them easily. Ask them to place the egg into the glass jar. Ensure it does not break and provide help to kids. Preferably use a wide-mouthed glass so that easily hands can go inside. Also, there will be rooms for the egg to swell.

• Mix Vinegar Solution Now, take vinegar and transfer that to the jar until it covers the entire egg. Finally, add few more drops to make sure that eggs are floating. Initially, the egg will float when it is fresh and then sink.

The fun begins quickly after adding the vinegar to the jar and you can witness minute bubble formation on outer layer of the egg. This is due to the release of CO 2 (carbon dioxide). Imagine the fizzy sound when opening any aerated juice. This is similar to that chemical reaction which happens n the jar.

• Close the jar and keep it aside for a maximum of 7 days

Osmosis takes places making the egg to swell and also the color of the eggshell fades from brown. A scummy layer is formed on the surface and it is good to change the Vinegar solution when you witness this layer formation. However, it is optional and does not bother if you forgot to do it or just don’t have time.

• It’s time to empty the vinegar from the jar and take the egg outside. Wash off the residual eggshell.

Wow! You can see the naked egg without eggshell. It is now soft like a sponge and light in weight. In case, the eggshells are hard to remove, then don’t panic it needs more days and some more vinegar. So wait with patience to enjoy watching and touching the naked egg soft as a sponge.  🙂

These are cool to look at and also you can find the intact membrane inside. It feels rubbery to touch and squeezing them gently adds fun. It is now possible to see through the lucid egg which contains the yolk. Also, they are seen floating on the top.

The reaction between an acid solution and a base can be demonstrated using this activity. The acetic acid present in vinegar reacts with the shell which is nothing but calcium carbonate. Therefore vinegar is acidic and eggshell is the base.

The reaction between acetic acid + calcium carbonate forms a compound that is soluble in water and named as calcium acetate. Along with this CO 2 is released. Thus the eggshell gets dissolved and the inner membrane remains unaltered giving an appearance of an exposed egg.

Tisha could not understand the science but activity took part in the experiment. She is too small for the explanation part. She expressed interest to carefully take an egg from the refrigerator and drop in the glass jar. Then she added vinegar to the egg in the jar and closed the jar with the lid. She enjoyed watching the bubbles. She counted days and waited to take the egg out of the jar and wash to remove the residual shells. She was amazed at the texture of the egg and ready for a camera shoot. I am glad she is so involved but at the cost of breaking some eggs. Still, she enjoyed.

Therefore, we discussed the texture of the egg from the beginning of the experiment (hard) until the end (spongy). All the time during the discussion Tisha was busy meddling with the egg squeezing softly and bouncing on the floor.

However, Pritika being elder started asking questions of how and that led to learning a bit of chemistry and chemical reactions. Though she is not old enough to understand reactions but certainly gained knowledge about the science involved in this experiment. She got an idea about elements, molecule, etc. She now knows that elements make up the molecules and the entire world has elements in it.

We then discussed molecules, acids, base, and reactions. Also, she understood that lemon contains citric acid. Out stomach has some acids to digest food etc. Also, she understood that acid reacting with the base like baking soda will make a fizzy sound. She knows the uses of baking soda because of our “making of Anzac Biscuits ” experiment. We also did the erupting volcano experiment a month ago which helped her to understand this one easier.

But today she saw vinegar reacting with a base other than baking soda and understood the chemical reaction. During the entire process, I explained to her about vinegar, its properties, and eggshell properties, etc. Also, told her how CO 2 bubbles escaped, etc. This is my small initiative to expand her knowledge with practical experiments.

Do not view the activity as edible. As we have used vinegar to dissolve eggshell formation bacteria will not be a cause for concern. Egg absorbs the vinegar and this process is osmosis. However, we advise you to not use this egg in cooking.

We have extended this experiment to make colorful Rainbow Rubber Eggs

If you are interested in more dissolving egg experiments, refer to the below links:

• Making Naked Eggs | Explanatorium
• Bouncy Eggs | Childhood101
• How to Make a Naked Egg (video) | Imagination Station Toledo
• 20+ Science Experiments with Eggs

Or if you are just looking for a science project for upcoming easter, here are some:

Create your own Easter Egg shaped bubble wands (identify what shape bubbles will come out )

Do follow our Go Science Girls board on pinterest to know upcoming science experiments.

Subscribe to our newsletter ,  we will send you our latest experiments right to your inbox. We would love to have you on board with us!

Which came first, the rubber egg or the rubber chicken?

Print this Experiment

This experiment answers the age-old question, “Which came first, the rubber egg or the rubber chicken?” It’s easy to make a rubber, or “naked,” egg if you understand the chemistry of removing the hard eggshell. What you’re left with is a totally embarrassed, naked egg and a cool piece of science.

Experiment Videos

Here's What You'll Need

Large glass or container, adult supervision, let's try it.

Place the egg in a tall glass or jar and cover the egg with vinegar.

Look closely at the egg. There will likely be tiny bubbles forming on the shell.

Leave the egg in the vinegar for a full 24 hours.

Change the vinegar on the second day. Carefully pour the old vinegar down the drain and cover the egg with fresh vinegar. Place the glass with the vinegar and egg in a safe place for a week—that’s right, 7 days! Don’t disturb the egg but pay close attention to the bubbles forming on the surface of the shell (or what’s left of it).

One week later, pour off the vinegar and carefully rinse the egg with water. The egg looks translucent because the shell is gone! The only thing that remains is a delicate membrane of the egg surrounding the white and the yolk. You’ve successfully made an egg without a shell. Okay, you didn’t really make the egg (the chicken made the egg), you just stripped away the chemical that gives the shell its strength.

How Does It Work

Let’s start with the bubbles you saw forming on the shell. The bubbles are carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). Vinegar is an acid called acetic acid (CH 3 COOH), and white vinegar from the grocery store is usually about 4% acetic acid and 96% water. Eggshells are made up of calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ). The acetic acid in the vinegar reacts with the calcium carbonate in the eggshell to make calcium acetate plus water and carbon dioxide that you see as bubbles on the surface of the shell. The chemical reaction looks like this . . .

2 CH 3 COOH + CaCO 3 = Ca(CH 3 COO) 2 + H 2 O + CO 2 Acetic acid + Calcium carbonate = Calcium acetate + Water + Carbon dioxide

The egg looks translucent when you shine a flashlight through it because the hard outside shell is gone. The only part that remains is the thin membrane called a semipermeable membrane.

You might have noticed that the egg got a little bigger after soaking in the vinegar. Here’s what happened…Some of the water in the vinegar solution (remember that household vinegar is 96% water) traveled through the egg’s membrane in an effort to equalize the concentration of water on both sides of the membrane. This flow of water through a semipermeable membrane is called osmosis .

If you take your naked egg and place it in a glass filled with corn syrup, the egg will shrivel. Since corn syrup has a lower concentration of water than an egg does, the water in the egg moves through the membrane and into the corn syrup to equalize the water concentration levels on both sides.

Take It Further

Change a Variable

Do organic or free-range eggs have an eggshell that is stronger or weaker than generic eggs? What about really fresh eggs compared to those that have been around for a while? Conduct your own tests on several different kinds of eggs all at once to observe any differences in the time required for the vinegar to dissolve the shells.

Try using concentrated vinegar instead of traditional vinegar. Concentrated vinegar is about four times the strength of traditional household vinegar. If you really want to cut down on the time it takes for the eggshell to disappear…and you’re chemistry teacher…try using 1 molar hydrochloric acid. Be careful—this is really strong stuff!

Bouncing Eggs

Here’s another idea. Put an egg in a separate glass. Cover the egg with vinegar. Allow the egg to sit in the vinegar for 24 hours. After 24 hours, pour out the vinegar and take the egg out of the glass. Drop the egg into the sink from a height of 3 inches. What happens? Continue dropping the egg from different heights (all drops should be done over the sink). What is the greatest height that you can drop the egg from before the egg goes splat? Can you measure the height of the bounces

Secret Message Eggs

You’ll totally freak someone out by making a message appear on an egg. Start by boiling an egg in a saucepan on the stove for 10 minutes. Remove the egg from the pan and let it cool. Use a crayon or small candle to write on the eggshell. Write anything you want—your name, a design, a symbol—just like you were going to make wax designs on an Easter egg. Then place the egg in a glass filled with vinegar. Bubbles will begin to form on the surface of the egg. When the bubbling stops, pour out the vinegar and cover the egg with fresh vinegar. When the second round of bubbling has stopped, remove the egg from the glass of vinegar and rinse it off with cool water. Rub your fingers over the surface of the egg. What do you feel? The eggshell is gone, but you should be able to decipher what you wrote or drew on the eggshell. Wax does not react with acid (vinegar), so underneath your wax design, the eggshell remains intact revealing your design.

Safety Information

WARNING! IMPORTANT SAFETY RULES Always wash your hands well with soap and water after handling raw eggs. Some raw eggs contain salmonella bacteria that can make you really sick!

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Osmosis Eggsperiment

Introduction.

Water passes into and out of cells by a special type of diffusion called  osmosis . Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of higher water concentration to an area of lower water concentration. All of our cells are surrounded by a selectively permeable membrane through which water molecules can pass. In this simple experiment, your students will use an egg membrane to model how osmosis works in animal cells.

Next Generation Science Standards

• LS1.A: Structure and Function.  Within cells, special structures are responsible for particular functions, and the cell membrane forms the boundary that controls what enters and leaves the cell.
• Science and Engineering Practices:  Developing and Using Models
• Crosscutting Concepts:  Structure and Function

Considerations

This activity works best for students working in groups of 2 to 3 and takes place over 3 days as follows:

• Day 1: Dissolving Eggshells 15minutes
• Day 2: Setting up the experiment 30minutes
• Day 3: Recording data and completing a lab report 45minutes

Per Student Group:

• 2 Fresh Eggs
• White Vinegar (about 600 mL)
• 2 Containers (large enough to hold an egg and completely cover it with liquid; 600-mL beakers work well)
• Large Spoon
• Distilled Water (about 300 mL)
• Corn Syrup (about 300 mL)
• 2 Small Paper Plates
• Grease Pencil

Preparation and Procedure

The first step is to dissolve the eggshell and expose the membrane. To do this, students soak the eggs in vinegar for 24 hours. Vinegar contains acetic acid that reacts with the calcium carbonate in the shell. When students first place the eggs in vinegar, have them observe the tiny bubbles forming around the eggs. This is evidence that a chemical reaction is taking place. The procedures below include the steps for dissolving the shells and completing the experiment.

• Use the grease pencil to label one container and one paper plate “Egg 1” and the other container and paper plate “Egg 2.” Carefully place an egg into each container.
• Pour enough vinegar over each egg to completely cover it.
• Observe the eggs for a few minutes and note any changes.
• Leave the eggs in their containers for 24 hours.
• Observe the eggs the next day and record your observations.
• Slowly pour the vinegar out of each container. Be very careful not to rupture the egg membranes.
• Carefully remove the eggs using the tablespoon, rinse them with water, and place each on its own labeled paper plate. Set the containers aside for now.
• Measure and record the mass of each egg, then place each egg back into its original container.
• Pour distilled water into the Egg 1 container until the egg is completely covered.
• Pour corn syrup into the Egg 2 container until the egg is completely covered.
• Put the 2 containers in a safe place overnight.  Note:   Have students make a prediction about what they think will happen to the mass of each egg .
• After 24 hours, observe each egg and record your observations.
• Slowly pour the water or syrup out of each container. Be very careful not to rupture the egg membranes.
• Carefully remove the eggs using the spoon, rinse them with water, and place each on its own labeled paper plate.
• Measure and record the mass of each egg. Calculate and record the change in mass.

Sample Data Table

Students should observe that the egg in distilled water was plump and gained mass, while the egg that was in corn syrup was shriveled and lost mass.

After the experiment, share with your students that egg white is about 90% water and discuss with them how the egg membrane (like a cell membrane) is selectively permeable. It lets some molecules move through—such as water, while it blocks larger molecules—such as sugar.

From students’ understanding of osmosis and diffusion, they should be able to explain that placing the egg in distilled water caused water to move from outside of the egg, where the concentration was higher, to inside of the egg, where the concentration was lower. The reverse happened for the egg placed in corn syrup. Because corn syrup contains a high amount of sugar, water molecules moved from the inside of the egg to an area of lower concentration outside of the egg.

• Have students think of a way to make the shriveled egg plump again.
• Have students plan and conduct investigations using other solutions such as salty water, and also with food coloring.
• Have students create a drawing showing how osmosis works. They may also create a physical model using candy pieces to represent water molecules.

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• Carolina® Osmosis Chamber Set #684270

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Magical Eggs

Have you ever made an eggshell disappear? You can.  In this osmosis egg experiment , you will explore chemical reactions, plasma membrane, and osmosis.

Eggs are specialized cells called gametes.  Eggs have a membrane and a hard outer covering that function to protect the developing embryo and behave similarly to a cell’s membrane.

This can be divided into several parts and is a great lab to come back to again and again adding deeper science context each time.  You start by making the shell disappear .

IN A HURRY?  GRAB THE OSMOSIS EGG EXPERIMENT RIGHT NOW.

Osmosis Egg Experiment

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What are the signs that a chemical reaction is occurring?

You are going to use vinegar to cause a chemical reaction. For this reaction how will you know it is happening? BUBBLES.

Scientists know that bubbles in a liquid either come from air escaping to the surface. This air was either trapped in the liquid, to begin with, or a chemical reaction has occurred. In this case, the vinegar reacts with the shell of the egg and causes the release of carbon dioxide .

Using the scientific method

I’m a big believer in the scientific method so we did an experimental egg and a control egg. The question my kids had was, what will happen to an egg in vinegar?   Their hypothesis was, an egg in vinegar will behave the same as an egg in water.  As Dwight Schrute would say, “False”.

As mentioned above, the vinegar reacts with the components of the shell and causes the shell to disappear. This leaves the membrane behind and you get a rubberized egg.

Our initial results.

We played with them for a little while (over the sink) and even dropped it to watch it bounce, but eventually, it broke. Leaving the membrane behind. Then we were able to see that the inside of the egg was still raw.  Of course, we had to “see” what would happen if we threw our control egg into the sink.

This is an experiment that we have circled back around to and added more concepts in.   The first one was about the cell membrane.

Why is the plasma membrane known as a semi-permeable membrane?

Semi-permeable membranes allow some things to pass through the membrane and don’t allow others.

Using the naked egg as a model for the cell with the membrane around the egg acting as a cell membrane we could test the permeability of the membrane.

What happens to a cell surrounded by water?

We were able to test three different eggs in three different solutions to see if the eggs gained or lost weight.  The weight was caused by the movement of water across the membrane (either into or out of the egg).  The results were dramatic.

Grab our entire osmosis egg experiment so you can run your own experiment.

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Egg In Vinegar (Rubber Egg) Experiment

Find out why this rubber egg or bouncy egg experiment is a classic must-try science activity you can set up in minutes in the classroom or at home! How can you make an egg bounce? What happens to the shell? Does light pass through it? All science experiments should be exciting, easy, and fun!

Egg In Vinegar Experiment

💡 This experiment is quick to set up, but it must be left for 48 to 72 hours to dissolve the shell and create a bouncy egg!

• Household Vinegar
• Jar or a Vase

STEP 1:   Place an egg in the jar and cover with vinegar.

Optional: You can color the vinegar with food coloring for rainbow-colored rubber eggs too!

STEP 2:   Wait and watch!

Notice the bubbles on the eggshell! The acid in the vinegar reacts with the calcium carbonate in the shell. This reaction produces a gas called carbon dioxide!

STEP 3:   After 48 hours, remove the egg and rinse it off. Ours had a layer of brown scum that was easily washed away!

The hard outer shell is gone and the egg white and yolk are surrounded by a thin membrane.

Why Does An Egg Become Bouncy In Vinegar?

Eggshells get their hardness from a mineral called calcium carbonate similar to our bones. When you place the egg into the vinegar, you will observe bubbles.

These bubbles or gas are produced because of the chemical reaction between the vinegar (an acid) and the calcium carbonate (the base) in the eggshell.

When an acid and a base mix, they form carbon dioxide, a gas. Learn more about acids and bases.

The eggshell breaks down, leaving a soft, bendable, squeeze-able, rubber egg. Does it bounce? Kids can gently squeeze the egg and bounce the egg. However, be prepared for the eggs to burst! See our suggestions below.

Try our seashells in vinegar experiment for another variation of this chemistry lesson.

How does osmosis work?

You may have noticed that the egg gets larger as the shell disappears. The process of osmosis is the reason the inside of the egg increases in its size!

Osmosis is the movement of water through a semi-permeable cell membrane. The water from the vinegar moved inside the egg because of the tiny holes in the membrane.

However, the holes are not big enough to allow the egg to come out, so now the egg and water are inside the cell membrane together! The cell membrane is called semi-permeable because only some materials can pass through. Learn more about osmosis here!

FREE Printable Science Activities Calendar

Fun Things To Do With Your Rubber Egg

Now for the fun part: exploring the naked egg with students! We gathered a few supplies such as a magnifying glass and a large flashlight. However, first, we talked about what our naked egg felt and looked like. We had made a cool, rubbery feeling egg!

💡 TIP: Help your child learn to explore by asking questions to spark curiosity!

All of these questions encourage exploration and hands-on learning. Have kids use their senses to observe ! What does it smell like? What does it look like? There are so many ways to explore. Grab the magnifying glass too!

Can an egg bounce?

Yes!! How high can an egg bounce?

TEST IT: How high can your egg bounce before it breaks? Watch out! This might get messy!

Can you see through an egg?

In general, you can’t see through a raw egg but what about a rubber egg? What happens when you put the naked egg up to a flashlight?

TEST IT: You can see through it! You can even see the yolk rolling around inside. Why is this? Because the hard outer shell is no longer there, you can see through the membrane of the egg.

Will a rubber egg eventually burst?

Of course, we were prompted to wonder what would happen if you burst the naked egg. WOW! With a quick prick from a skewer, the egg burst! We were all quite surprised. The images below show what the naked egg looked like afterward.

Turn It Into An Bouncy Egg Science Project

This basic version below is perfect for younger kids. It includes the right amount of play and learning . For older kids, apply the scientific method by using variables . For example…

• Eggs – Are there differences in eggshells between brown and white eggs? How about organic eggs versus regular eggs?
• Liquid – What happens when you put the rubber egg back in vinegar or another liquid? How about corn syrup? Test different liquids and explore osmosis once the shell is dissolved!

Want to turn this fun science experiment into a science project? Then check out these helpful resources.

• Easy Science Fair Projects
• Science Project Tips From A Teacher
• Science Fair Board Ideas

More Fun Science Experiments To Try

• Take egg drop STEM challenge
• See if you can make an egg float
• Test the strength of the shell
• Make a crystal eggshell .
• Set up a potato osmosis lab.
• Dissolve a seashell!

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14 Comments

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my my bursted my rubberr egg im very upset

is this a fair test?

too many pages to print out….not easy to be able to do .keeps saying click below but get the cards on hypothesisi…dont want that

This is an awesome activity.

This was amazing! in the end it turned out great! my sister popped it tho :c

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Egg Osmosis Experiments With Distilled Water & Salt Water

Science Project Egg Experiments

Osmosis happens when a solvent, like distilled water, diffuses across a membrane into a solution that has a higher concentration of some solute, like salt water. Eggs are a model system for demonstrating osmosis because the thin membrane that lies underneath the shell is permeable to water, providing a system that changes volume as water passes in or out of the egg's interior.

Goal of the Experiment

Inside the egg membrane is a concentrated solution of proteins and water. When the egg is soaked in distilled water, osmosis causes water to diffuse into the egg to equalize the concentration of water on both sides of the membrane, and the egg increases in volume. If that same egg is then soaked in concentrated salt water, osmosis causes the water to diffuse back out of the egg, and the egg decreases in volume. The goal of the experiment is to demonstrate the process of osmosis by measuring the change in volume of the egg and then relate this to how water moves in and out of living cells.

Time Requirements

If only one experiment is performed on each individual egg, you will need to plan on three days for the experiment. Two days may be required to dissolve the egg shell with vinegar so that only the rubbery membrane remains. One day is required to complete each osmosis experiment on a single egg. Demonstrating osmosis in both directions, diffusion of water into the egg and then out of the egg, will require an additional 24 hours, for a total of four days.

Material Requirements

In addition to the eggs and vinegar to dissolve the shell, you will need plastic cups or glassware to store the eggs while soaking, salt to make a concentrated salt solution, and some way to measure the change in volume of the egg, such as rulers to measure the egg's dimensions, balances to measure the change in mass, or graduated glassware to measure displaced volume. Keep a stock of cleaning supplies nearby to deal with broken eggs.

Experimental Variations

Simple variations can be made to the experiment to make it more interesting. Food coloring can be added to the distilled water to demonstrate with color that water from the cup is moving inside the egg. After the egg swells in size, it can be popped and colored water will come out. Solutions other than salt water can also be used to cause water to diffuse out of the egg, such as oils or syrups that have little to no water content. These will cause a larger decrease in the egg's volume than salt water.

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• Oregon State University, Agriculture in the Classroom: Egg Science: Dissolution & Osmosis
• ILoveBacteria.com: Egg Osmosis
• Penn State Materials Research Institute, Education and Outreach Programs: Osmosis Eggs
• CSIRO: Easter Egg Eggs-periments for Kids
• Fermilab ARISE Project: Osmosis Egg Lab

About the Author

Joshua Bush has been writing from Charlottesville, Va., since 2006, specializing in science and culture. He has authored several articles in peer-reviewed science journals in the field of tissue engineering. Bush holds a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University.

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The Incredible Osmosis Egg

June 8, 2019 by Tracy Leave a Comment

But did you know an egg has osmosis? We tried out this neat experiment from Janice Van Cleave and learned an egg can swell and shrink depending on what fluid it is in. Check it out!

What you need:  You really only need one jar, an egg, vinegar, and karo syrup. (We had a control egg for our experiment but could have done without it)

How you do it:

• Measure and record the circumference of the egg
• Carefully add vinegar to an egg in a jar and let it soak for 24 hours

• After 24 hours the egg shell should be dissolved. A white foam will appear on the vinegar indicating the shell is gone

• Carefully measure the egg circumference and record. Our egg grew to a 6″ circumference!

• Pour out the vinegar and add karo syrup to the jar along with the naked shell-less egg.

• After 48 hours the egg should shrink. The egg on the left in the picture below literally cratered

• Carefully remove the egg again and measure the circumference. Our egg shrunk 2″!

What’s the science?

Why did the egg shell dissolve? The vinegar (an acid) is reacting with the calcium carbonate (a base) in the shell letting off carbon dioxide gas. This reaction ultimately dissolves the eggshell and leaves behind the egg membrane. This membrane allows the moisture in the vinegar to pass through and stay within the egg.

But why did the egg shrink in karo syrup? The syrup molecules are too big to pass inside the membrane but the water inside the egg passes to the low water environment in the syrup. Basically, the egg membrane is selective on which fluids pass in and out of it.

So there you have the incredible osmosis egg! Hope you enjoy this one for a fun kitchen experiment or a cool science fair project. Does this work only on syrup? How do other fluids pass in and out of the membrane? Have fun!

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What is Osmosis?

September 21, 2018 By Emma Vanstone 1 Comment

I still remember learning about osmosis at school many years ago. I don’t know why that particular memory has stayed with me so strongly, maybe because it was hard to understand. Whatever the reason, osmosis is a term I’ve never forgotten the meaning of.

Definition of Osmosis

Osmosis is the net movement of water molecules across a partially permeable membrane from a region of higher water concentration to a region of lower water concentration.

Osmosis is the net movement of water molecules across a partially permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

The important thing to remember is that osmosis is the movement of WATER MOLECULES ( or other solvent ) not the particles dissolved in the water. For example if you split a beaker of water into two halves with a semi permeable membrane and added salt to one side, water would move from the side of the beaker with no salt into the salty side.

What is a partially permeable membrane?

A partially permeable membrane has very small holes in in. Tiny water molecules can fit through, but not bigger molecules like sugars.

Osmosis Example

Try soaking a raisin in water, what happens? It should swell up a little, this is because the water moves from where it is in high concentration ( the water ) into the raisins which have a low water concentration. Water keeps moving by osmosis until equilibrium is reached, this is when the concentration of both solutions is the same.

Another fun way to illustrate osmosis is with eggs as they have a handy semi-permeable membrane.

Easy Osmosis Experiment

You’ll need.

Two glasses or jars

Remove the shell from two eggs

Place two egg in a container of vinegar for about 24 hours. The eggs should be completely submerged.

After about 24 hours, removed the eggs and gently rub the shell under cold running water. You should be able to remove most of the shell.

If it won’t all rub off put the eggs in fresh vinegar for another few hours.

Shrink an egg

To shrink the egg you need to put in in a concentrated solution so water molecules will move from the egg into the solution..

Stir about three tablespoons of sugar into a glass of water and stir until all the sugar has dissolved.

Place one egg in this solution.

Grow an egg

Place the second egg in a glass of plain water.

Leave the eggs for about 24 hours. Can you predict what will happen?

Note how the egg in water sinks to the bottom of the glass while the one in the sugar solution floats. This is because the sugar solution is more dense than the water.

Our egg in the water expanded while the egg in sugar solution shrank. I used dark sugar which is why the solution looks brown/red but any sugar will work.

Prick the egg from the water with a fine needle and watch a jet of water shoot out!

How do you think you could rehydrate your shrunken egg?

Why does the egg grow and shrink?

Our concentrated solution was the sugar solution. The dissolved sugar molecules cannot pass through the semi permeable membrane of the egg, but the smaller water molecules can. Water molecules move from where they are in higher concentration ( inside the egg ) to where they are in lower concentration ( the sugar solution ) until the equilibrium is reached. Therefore water molecules move from inside the egg to the sugar solution. This makes the egg shrink as the net movement of water is out of the egg.

To rehydrate the egg, place it into plain water. In this instance the concentration of water molecules is higher in the water than inside the egg so the net movement of water molecules is from the water into the egg!

When we pricked the egg soaked in water, water shot out of the egg. This is because the egg had absorbed so much extra water the pressure inside increased.

Why does egg shell dissolve in vinegar?

The egg shell dissolves in the vinegar as the acetic acid in the vinegar reacts with the calcium carbonate of the the shell. Carbon dioxide is given off during this reaction which is the bubbles of gas you see.

More osmosis experiments

Weigh the eggs at each stage to monitor the loss and gain of water.

Add food colouring to the water and watch as the eggs absorb the coloured liquid.

What do you think would happen if you left an egg in a glass of golden syrup?

Try measuring the egg at each stage of the investigation.

We used thread to measure the diameter of the egg at its widest point after the shell was first removed, after soaking in vinegar and after soaking in golden syrup.

The longest thread is from when the egg egg was soaked in water, this is because the concentration of water inside the egg was lower than outside the egg so water moved into the egg.

The shortest thread is from the egg soaked in golden syrup as water moved by osmosis out of the egg into the golden syrup as the concentration of water inside the egg was higher than outside.

Don’t forget to wash your hands after handling raw eggs

More egg experiment for kids

Learn about tooth decay with eggs . Did you know an egg shell is similar to the outer coating on our teeth?

Find out how to transform egg white into meringue and make a tasty dessert at the same time.

Finally, did you know you can make an egg bounce ?

Last Updated on November 19, 2021 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.

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March 18, 2019 at 3:33 pm

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