floating hard boiled egg experiment

April 10, 2014

Salty Science: Floating Eggs in Water

A density demonstration from Science Buddies

By Science Buddies

Key concepts Density Mass Volume Concentration Buoyancy Water Introduction Have you ever wondered why some objects float in water and others sink? It has to do with the density of the objects compared with the density of the water surrounding them. If an object is less dense than the water around it, it will float. Because salt water is denser than freshwater, some things float more easily in the ocean—or extremely salty bodies of the water, such as the Dead Sea. You can make your own dense water by adding salt to tap water. In fact, if you add enough salt, you can make the water so dense that an egg will actually float in it! Explore how this works in this science activity. Background If you put an egg in a cup of tap water, it will sink to the bottom. Why is this? Because the density of the egg is higher than the density of tap water, so it sinks. Density is the mass of a material per unit volume. For example, the density of freshwater under standard conditions is approximately one gram per cubic centimeter. But, if you add enough salt to the water, the egg will actually float back up to the surface! Adding salt to the water increases the density of the solution because the salt increases the mass without changing the volume very much. When enough salt is added to the water, the saltwater solution's density becomes higher than the egg's, so the egg will then float! The ability of something, like the egg, to float in water or some other liquid is known as buoyancy. But just how much salt is needed to make an egg float? In this science activity you'll figure that out by making solutions with varying concentrations of salt in them. Materials

Measuring cup

Large container, such as a large bowl or cooking pot (It must be able to hold at least three cups.)

One half cup of table salt

Five cups that hold at least 16 ounces each

Permanent marker (if you are using plastic cups) or masking tape and a pen (to label nondisposable cups)

Three spoons for mixing salty solutions

Soup spoon for egg transfers

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Preparation

Take the egg out of the refrigerator and allow it to warm to room temperature. Be sure to always wash your hands after handling uncooked eggs because they may carry salmonella.

Pour one and one half cups of water into your large container.

Add one half cup of salt to the large container and stir to dissolve some of the salt (it will not all dissolve yet).

Add one more cup of water to the large container (making two and one half cups total) and stir to dissolve the remaining salt. The salt should be completely dissolved before you go on to the next step. It may take several (five to 10) minutes of stirring, so you may need to be patient. Why do you think it's important to start out with a solution that has such a high concentration of salt?

Arrange the five cups on a surface, going in a line from left to right. Label the cups 1 to 5. If you are using plastic cups, you can use a permanent marker to label them. If you are using nondisposable cups, you can use masking tape and a pen to label them.

Add three quarters cup of the salty solution you prepared to cup 1.

Add three quarters cup of plain tap water to cups 2 through 5. (Cup 5 will be plain tap water.)

Add three quarters cup of the salty solution you prepared to cup 2 and mix it. What is the salt concentration in cup two compared with cup one?

Add three quarters cup of the salt solution from cup 2 to cup 3 and mix it. What is the salt concentration in cup 3 compared with cups 1 and 2?

Add three quarters cup of the salt solution from cup 3 to cup 4 and mix it. What is the salt concentration in cup 4 compared with the other cups?

Use a soup spoon to place an egg in cup 5. Does the egg float?

Use the spoon to take the egg out and place it in cup 4. Does the egg float?

Repeat this process with cups 3, 2 and then 1. In which cup does the egg first float? If the egg floated in more than one cup, did you notice any difference in how it floated? What does this tell you about the density of the egg?

Extra: In this science activity you figured out, within a factor of two, how much salt it takes to float an egg. You could narrow down the range further by testing additional saltwater solutions to try and determine the egg’s density. To do this, start your solution with the salt concentration in which the egg first floated and make a new dilution series, as you did before. Now in which cup does the egg first float? What does this tell you about the density of the egg?

Extra: Repeat this activity using several more eggs, possibly both hard-boiled and uncooked eggs. Do you get the same results with other eggs or is there some variation between different eggs? For testing hard-boiled versus raw eggs, you should test the same egg, first raw and then after hard-boiling it to investigate any differences.

Extra: Find out how much salt there is in seawater. From the results of your activity, do you think an egg would float or sink in seawater?

[break] Observations and results Did the egg float in cup 1 and 2, but not in cups 3, 4 or 5? You likely saw that the egg floated best in cup 1, floated a little less in cup 2 (but part of it was above the surface) and did not float in the other cups. Cup 1 had the undiluted salty solution that you originally prepared, which was one half cup of salt in two and one half cups water total. The concentrations of the salt solutions in cups 2 to 4 were halved as you increased in cup number; for example, the concentration of the salt in cup 2 was half that of cup 1, and the concentration of the salt in cup 3 was half again of cup 2. (Cup 5 had plain tap water.) The egg should have sunk in cups 3, 4 and 5 because the density of the egg was higher than the density of the solutions (or plain tap water) in those cups. Cups 1 and 2 had more salt in them than the other cups (with cup 1 having the most salt), which means these solutions were denser. The egg should have floated (with part of it above the water surface) in these two cups because the solutions were denser than the egg. The actual density of the egg is in between the density of the solution in cup 3 and that in cup 2. More to explore What Is Density? , from Charles E. Ophardt, Elmhurst College Why Is the Ocean Salty? , from Herbert Swenson, U.S. Geological Survey Publication Fun, Science Activities for You and Your Family , from Science Buddies How Salty Does the Sea Have to Be for an Egg to Float? , from Science Buddies

This activity brought to you in partnership with Science Buddies

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Fantastic Fun & Learning

Fun learning activities and things to do with kids

Floating Egg Science Experiment-Comparing Eggs

By Shaunna Evans 20 Comments · This content may contain affiliate links.

We love to do simple science experiments! At home and in the classroom science experiments are a very meaningful way to get kids engaged and thinking about the world around them. This floating egg science experiment involves just a couple of everyday materials you probably already have on hand!

In the classroom the kids were always amazed to see this egg trick I found at Funology. It’s simple and quick, but there’s a lot of learning involved too. Lovey and I recently tried a variation of the traditional experiment. We were boiling eggs for breakfast, and Lovey noticed that the eggs in the pan sink to the bottom. I decided to set up this experiment so we can do a little learning before breakfast.

Floating Egg Science Experiment-Comparing Eggs

Materials for Floating Egg Science Experiment

Two glasses 2/3 full of water
Two containers of salt (Lovey measured 3/4 of a cup, but you could do the experiment with a bit less.)
One raw egg
One hard-boiled egg (Mark one egg so you can tell the difference.)

Predictions

Based on Lovey’s observation earlier that morning. We discussed what we thought might happen. She predicted that the hard-boiled egg would sink and turn the water hot. (We had cooled it by running cold water over it, but it was still warm.) She predicted that the raw egg would float and turn the water cold.

First she dropped the raw egg into the water.

Then she dropped the hard-boiled egg into the water. Both of them sank to the bottom.

Then she slowly poured the salt into the glass with the raw egg. She didn’t think anything was going to happen.

But WOW was she surprised when that egg popped to the top!

Surprise-The Egg Floats-Science Experiment

Why? Adding salt changes the density of the water, so the egg floats to the top.

Then she added salt to the glass with the hard-boiled egg to see if it would float, too.

Do Hard-Boiled Eggs Float Science Experiment

And it did!

Comparing raw and hard-boiled eggs science experiment for kids

After finishing the experiment, she wondered whether she could make the egg sink again. She poked at it a bit and had fun watching push its way back to the top each time.

After doing this activity she showed what she had learned in various ways. While cooking with my mother she mentioned they could add water to make things float in their pot. And while playing with pumpkins in the water table, she noted that they float even if there was no salt in the water. I see even more explorations with water density in our future!

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Save time and get right to the playful learning with our printable lesson plan sets. Each set includes over 30 playful learning activities related to the theme, and we’ve provided different versions for home preschool families and classroom teachers so all activities are geared directly toward your needs.

This set includes active hands-on learning ideas and the following printables:

1) Egg Beginning Sound Sorting Activity 2) Uppercase and Lowercase Egg Puzzles 3) 0-35 Egg Number Cards 4) 1-20 Number Basket Sorting Mats 5) Numbers and Sets Matching Puzzles (2 variations for differentiated instruction) 6) Oviparous Animals Emergent Reader (2 variations) 7) 4 Math Game Cubes 8) Egg Cards (for patterning, sorting, and ordering by size) 9) Oviparous and Non Oviparous Animal Sorting Activity 10)Oviparous animal word cards

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Reader Interactions

PlaSmartToys

January 24, 2014 at 2:23 pm

What a fun experiment. As you discovered, this is a great way to get children asking questions and taking what they’ve learned and applying their findings to other situations. Great job!

PlaSmarttoys.com @PlaSmart

Anna@The Measured Mom

November 7, 2013 at 3:04 pm

Your daughter must be so full of life – she has such beautiful smiles in your pictures! I love the look of amazement on her face. Thanks for linking up!

Shaunna Evans

November 8, 2013 at 2:41 pm

She is! I don’t always do the best job of capturing her expressions…sometimes she’s also intensely focused. Thank you

November 9, 2013 at 9:32 pm

Featuring on Monday!

Laughing Kids Learn

November 7, 2013 at 6:26 am

Thank you for linking up this idea to ‘Share It Saturday’. I look forward to featuring it this weekend. Hopefully you will be able to link up more of your brilliant ideas.

November 8, 2013 at 2:45 pm

Thank you so much for featuring this post! I love linking up to Share It Saturday.

November 5, 2013 at 3:59 pm

The expressions you captured on your daughter’s face say it all. What a great experiment! I would love it if you link up with Entertaining and Educational this Friday. – http://highhillhomeschool.blogspot.com

Megan Sheakoski

November 4, 2013 at 9:49 pm

Great experiment! I need to try this with my kiddos!

November 9, 2013 at 8:02 pm

Thanks, Megan!

November 4, 2013 at 1:19 pm

We love this experiment – we did a while back when we talked about Israel and The Dead Sea. So fun! Thanks for sharing with Afterschool!

November 9, 2013 at 8:04 pm

Great curriculum connection! I’ll have to remember that and try the experiment again then.

Jen aka The Mad House

November 4, 2013 at 8:10 am

This is such a cool experiment.

November 9, 2013 at 8:05 pm

Isn’t it neat? And so simple!

November 3, 2013 at 8:35 pm

Great simple science experiment! It looks like it was a hit. I loved how you incorporated a hypothesis based on what happened earlier.

November 9, 2013 at 8:08 pm

Thank you! I try to focus on discussions a lot when we are doing science and math activities. This was often a challenge for my kindergarten students in the classroom, so I try to give the kids a lot of practice discussing their ideas and observations.

November 2, 2013 at 1:30 pm

Thanks for hosting! Now following from Scrappy Bag Lady

Annette W {This Simple Mom}

October 31, 2013 at 1:40 pm

Eggs are great fun with science…and salt! We had fun with lemons this week!

November 9, 2013 at 8:30 pm

So many fun things to explore with lemons! I bet you had fun.

JDaniel4's Mom

October 30, 2013 at 9:09 am

What fun! I can almost hear her giggling as the egg pops back.

November 9, 2013 at 8:31 pm

Exactly! Giggles galore!

Floating Eggs

You must have observed that when we lower eggs into normal tap water, it sinks to the bottom. Can you make an egg float? Yes, you can. You will find how in the below science project.

Floating Egg Experiment

Eggs, when placed in salt water, float. In fresh water, they sink.

Two drinking glasses
Two raw eggs
Plain tap water

Instructions

Fill one glass almost to the top with regular tap water.
Gently drop one of the eggs into the water in the glass with the spoon. Make your observation about whether the egg sinks or floats.
Half fill the second glass with water.
Add 4 tbsp of table salt and stir well.
Fill the remaining glass with water, almost to the top.
Place the second egg in the salty water and observe if there is a different result.

Why Do Eggs Sink or Float?

The first egg sinks to the bottom of the glass as regular water has a lesser density than that of the egg. But, on making the water saline, its density increases and becomes more than that of the egg. Hence, it floats. In this connection, it may be mentioned that a body floats in a liquid that has a greater density than itself. If the liquid has a lesser density than the body, it will cause the body to sink.

How to Make an Egg Float: Video

Do hard boiled eggs float.

You can perform the experiment with hard-boiled eggs to get similar results.

Egg Float Test to Check for Bad Eggs

Egg shells are porous. As eggs become old, the fluid inside them evaporates, with air and oxygen filling up the interiors. You can perform a floating egg test to check if your eggs have become bad. A fresh egg will simply sink to the bottom of a jar of fresh cold water. Sitting at the bottom tilted to one side, or having its pointed end downwards still qualifies the egg as edible, though not as fresh as the previous case. However, if the egg floats, then it is stale and is not safe for consumption.

Surprise your friends in your next science fair with this trick. Let them first try floating eggs in fresh water. When they fail, you can produce your floating eggs and later explain the reason.

How much salt will make an egg float?

Do you like this article? Yes No

Thank you! Please keep reading.

Salt is a common seasoning found in almost every kitchen. It not only enhances the taste of our dishes but also has various other uses. One interesting experiment involving salt and eggs is determining how much salt is needed to make an egg float. This simple experiment can be a fun and educational activity for children and adults alike. So, let’s dive into the science behind it and find out the answer to the question – how much salt will make an egg float?

In this article:

What happens when you put an egg in water?

When you place a raw egg in water, it sinks to the bottom. This is because the density of the egg is greater than the density of water.

How does salt affect the density of water?

Adding salt to water increases its density. The salt molecules dissolve in water and occupy the spaces between water molecules, making the space between them smaller. This increase in density allows objects with lower density, such as an egg, to float.

Why does adding salt increase water’s density?

The salt molecules break apart into positive and negative ions when dissolved in water. These ions disrupt the hydrogen bond network between water molecules. As a result, the water molecules become closer together, increasing the density of water.

What is the relationship between salt concentration and water density?

The higher the concentration of salt in water, the greater its density becomes.

How can we make an egg float using salt?

To make an egg float, we need to increase the density of water by adding salt gradually until the egg starts to rise. Once the egg floats, the salt concentration in the water is sufficient to keep the egg afloat.

** The exact amount of salt required to make an egg float depends on the size of the egg and the amount of water used. However, as a general guideline, you will typically need around 3.5 tablespoons of salt per cup of water.

What should be the water temperature for this experiment?

The temperature of the water used in the experiment does not affect the density significantly. Therefore, you can use water at room temperature or cold tap water.

Can I use any type of salt for this experiment?

Yes, you can use any type of salt, such as table salt or sea salt. The type of salt does not impact the experiment’s results.

Can I use other objects instead of an egg?

Yes, you can experiment with other objects like fruits or vegetables to see if they float in saltwater. However, keep in mind that the density of the object you choose will determine its floating capability.

What happens if I add too much salt?

Adding an excessive amount of salt will increase the density of water to a point where the egg might sink again. It’s important to add salt gradually and observe when the egg starts to float.

Can I reuse the saltwater solution?

Yes, you can reuse the saltwater solution for this experiment. However, over time, some water might evaporate, so it’s a good idea to add extra water and salt as needed.

Can I use this experiment to understand density?

Yes, this experiment is a fantastic way to introduce the concept of density to children. By observing how salt affects water density, they can understand why objects can either float or sink.

Can I perform this experiment with hard-boiled eggs?

No, this experiment works best with raw eggs. Hard-boiled eggs have a different internal structure that affects their density, making them less suitable for this particular experiment.

In conclusion, the amount of salt required to make an egg float depends on several factors, including the size of the egg and the amount of water used. However, adding approximately 3.5 tablespoons of salt per cup of water is a good starting point. This easy and interactive experiment is not only a fun kitchen activity but also a great way to understand the concept of density. So, gather your materials, start experimenting, and explore the fascinating world of science and salt!

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About Rachel Bannarasee

Rachael grew up in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai until she was seven when her parents moved to the US. Her father was in the Oil Industry while her mother ran a successful restaurant. Now living in her father's birthplace Texas, she loves to develop authentic, delicious recipes from her culture but mix them with other culinary influences. When she isn't cooking or writing about it, she enjoys exploring the United States, one state at a time. She lives with her boyfriend Steve and their two German Shepherds, Gus and Wilber.

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Kids' Science Projects >

Salt Water Egg Experiment

Will it float or sink.

The Salt Water Egg Experiment explains why materials (such as an egg) float more in salt water than in fresh water.

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Have you ever tried swimming in the sea? Did you notice that you could float more easily in the open waters than when you're swimming in fresh water or even in a swimming pool? This experiment will help you understand why!

For the Salt Water Egg experiment you will need the following materials:

Two containers
Two raw eggs

Fill the two containers with tap water.
Add about 6 tablespoons of salt in one container and stir it well with a tablespoon until the salt has completely dissolved in the water.
Place one egg in each of the containers and observe which one of the eggs float in the container and which one sinks.

The explanation behind this phenomenon is simple - DENSITY! In the Salt Water Egg experiment, you have observed that the egg placed in saltwater floated and the one in tap water didn't. Because saltwater is denser than fresh water, the egg does not end up sinking like it usually does!

Why is this so? Let's first discuss the definition of density and why objects sink. Density refers to the amount of matter contained in a given space or volume. When there's more amount of matter in a given space or volume, the object is then considered denser and at the same time heavier. However, this doesn't mean that density and weight is the same and can be used interchangeably.

Weight refers to the vertical force exerted by a mass of object when subjected to gravity. Unlike density, weight is dependent on the amount of gravity in a particular place. To make it clearer, let's take the egg as an example. The egg's density remains the same no matter where you bring it, whatever the amount of gravity is in that place. However, if you bring the same egg to space, where there is no gravity, it loses its weight! But its density remains the same. That's the difference between density and weight - gravity.

Why Objects Float or Sink

Now let's go back to the question of why objects float or sink. Placing an object that's denser than fresh water automatically sinks. In our Salt Water Egg experiment, because the egg is denser than tap water, it pushes away water particles so it can make space for itself hence the sinking motion. But in the case of the salt water, since it is heavier than ordinary tap water, it is more capable of holding the egg up - hence the egg floating. In easier words, objects sink when their own density is greater than the liquid's density.

Now you must be wondering what's in the salt that makes water denser when mixed with it? When salt is added and dissolved in water, it breaks down into ions that are then attracted to the water molecules. This attraction causes them to bind tightly, increasing the amount of matter per volume (density). Instead of just having the molecules hydrogen and oxygen in the water, sodium and chlorine joins the equation (since salt is made up of sodium and chlorine particles). Saltwater now has more particles in it compared to the ordinary tap water we started with. This is why saltwater is denser than tap water.

So next time you go to the beach or swim in the ocean, you already know the reason why it's so much easier to float in the open waters. In fact, an average person can float like a log with much less effort in saltwater than in fresh water. The key is, the denser the liquid the easier you'll float in it! Amazing huh?

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Explorable.com (Jan 20, 2011). Salt Water Egg Experiment. Retrieved Sep 26, 2024 from Explorable.com: https://explorable.com/salt-water-egg-experiment

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Friday, March 29, 2013

Floating egg science experiment.

cup or beaker
raw, uncooked egg

15 comments:

What a fun way to use eggs for science!

I love this experiment, and can't wait to do it with my pre-k and kindergarten boys!

Thanks Andrea! It was a ton of fun! Shauna, I bet they'll love it!!

Super Cool Experiment! Hopping in from Share it Saturdays. Renee @ Great Peace Academy

Hi Renee! Thanks for stopping by!!

This is a great experiment. I hope you'll consider sharing it at Look What We Did. You know I moved it to HammockTracks, right? I look forward to you linking more of your posts. Plus I am offering free advertising to the blog with the most clicks and referrals. -Savannah www.hammocktracks.com

Great activity!

I love this experiment. That is a really fun and memorable lesson. Thanks for sharing on Artsy Play Wednesday. Pinned it! : 0 ) Theresa (Capri + 3)

What a COOL experiment! I need to do this one with my girls! Thank you so much for sharing at We Made That!

Very fun science experiment! Thank you for linking up this week to the Hearts for Home Blog Hop!

Great experiment! We will have to try it sometime! Thanks for sharing at Mom's Library!

Featuring you this week on Mom's Library!

Yaaaay!! Thanks, Ashley!!

This is brilliantly simple! I'm going to give it to my 8 and 10 year olds as a puzzle. We've been doing a few density experiments recently so I wonder if they can figure it out!

Hi Lucinda! That sounds like a great puzzle! I'd love to hear how it goes!

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STEM Activities /
200 Quick & easy experiments /

Floating Egg

Does an egg sink or float in water? What if it does both? In this experiment, make an egg sink and float at the same time!

Ages: 5 - 8

<30 minutes

A little messy

Materials you'll need

Step-by-step tutorial.

Gather your materials.

Fill the jar about halfway with warm water. Then, add salt until it no longer dissolves when mixed.

Carefully put in the egg. Your egg should float to the top of the water!

Hold a spoon upside down over the jar and pour warm water over it. Fill up the jar the rest of the way. The egg stays in the same place!

The salt water is saturated with the salt, which makes it more dense. The egg is less dense than the salt water, so the it floats to the top. When the fresh water is poured into the jar, it also floats above the salt water. However, the water on its own is less dense than the egg, so the egg doesn’t move. The egg floats at the top of the salt water, but sinks below the fresh water! Cool! Experiment further with a hard boiled egg!

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How to Tell If Your Eggs Are Fresh Using the Egg Float Test

Anyone can do this kitchen experiment!

Have you ever wondered if eggs go bad? These days, we often store our eggs in the refrigerator, and they're used up quicker than just about anything. Whether it's for baking, breakfast casseroles , or our favorite egg recipes , the incredible, edible egg is one of those kitchen staples that rarely goes unused. But if you happen to have a carton of eggs in the fridge and you're not sure how long they've been there, it begs the question: are these eggs still fresh? Luckily, there's an easy way to tell (and we're not just talking about the expiration date). Instead, you can get a more accurate answer using the egg float test.

What is the egg float test, you might ask? It's like a mini science experiment in your kitchen. All you need is a glass of water! This simple hack can help you find out if your eggs are still okay to eat. Because no one wants to cook with rotten eggs—it's unpleasant; plus, it can put you at risk for salmonella and other food-borne diseases. So how do you know if your eggs are actually expired or if you can squeeze in a few more omelettes?

Read on for everything you need to know. And while you're here, pick up some other tips and tricks, like how to sniff out any problems and what that pack date on the egg carton actually means.

How do you do a float test?

It's pretty simple: Place an egg in a bowl of water. If the egg sinks, it's good; if it floats, it's gone bad. Here's why: Eggshells are very porous, so as time goes by, the egg loses moisture, causing its contents to shrink. At the same time, a small air pocket inside the shell starts to expand, causing the egg to float in water. Give the egg float test a try—here are three possible outcomes:

The egg sinks and falls to its side. Hooray, you have a fresh egg! Now go make Ree Drummond's eggs Benedict .
The egg sinks, but stands upright at the bottom. Get cracking—your egg is still okay to eat, but you should use it relatively quickly.
The egg starts to float up slightly. It's past its peak freshness but might be okay to eat. Check out the sniff test, below!
The egg floats. Sorry, but your egg is no longer safe to eat—it's time to toss it. If you want to double check, crack the egg into a bowl and give it a sniff.

Can you still eat eggs that float?

Not all floating eggs are rotten! According to the USDA , if an egg floats, "the egg is old, but it may be perfectly safe to use." You'll want to crack the egg into a bowl to take a closer look. Use the sniff test and look for anything that seems off about the egg.

How do you know if eggs have gone bad?

If you've already cracked open your eggs, use your senses and your best judgment. Here's how to spy an egg that's past its prime or close to it:

Check the Whites

Fresh eggs will have thick, slightly opaque whites; eggs whites that are older will start to spread. Runny egg whites aren't necessarily unsafe to eat though.

Examine the Yolks

If the yolks are round and domed, the eggs are likely fresh—if they look flattened, they may be on the older side.

Do a Sniff Test

If you've ever smelled rotten eggs, you know what we're talking about here. Rule of thumb: If your eggs smell bad, throw them out!

What if my eggs are old or almost expired?

Don't toss your eggs just because they're close to expiring! Older eggs are actually great for making meringue—they whip up better than fresh eggs. You can also hard-boil older eggs to extend their shelf-life for a little longer. Hard-boiled eggs can be stored in their shells in the fridge for another week. (Just make sure to label them so you don't confuse them with raw eggs!) Then use your hard-boiled to make egg salad , deviled eggs , or Ree's New York-Style Chopped Salad . If worse comes to worse, you can always opt for eggless desserts or using any number of egg substitutes .

What's the pack date on an egg carton?

Your egg carton is probably stamped with a sell-by date or best-by date, but those dates aren't always the answer. Eggs are usually still fresh beyond the sell-by date. For a more accurate date, look at the pack date (sometimes called the Julian date). This three-digit number, which should be stamped on the side of your egg carton, corresponds to the day of the year: 001 is January 1 and 365 is December 31. (Sorry, you're going to have to do some calculating to figure it out!) The pack date tells you when the eggs were washed and placed in the container. Eggs that have been properly refrigerated are generally safe to eat four to five weeks after the pack date.

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Floating Egg Experiment

What happens when you toss a coin in water? It sinks, doesn’t it? But why does an apple float in water without sinking to the bottom? Some things float while others sink when you put them in water, because of a concept called density.

Sometimes, understanding the theory behind buoyancy and density can be difficult and confusing for little children. In such cases, performing some simple science experiments for kids like the floating egg experiment demonstrates the concept of density to the kids.

Here is a step-by-step guide to performing the floating egg experiment:

Things You Need For The Floating Egg Experiment

Steps To Set-Up The Floating Egg Science Experiment
The Science Behind Floating Egg Density Experiment
You Can Do More With Floating Egg Science Experiment

The floating egg science experiment is a simple and inexpensive way to help kids understand their lessons on density. All you need are some eggs and saltwater.

Here is a list of things you’ll need to perform the experiment:

2 Eggs (ensure they are the freshest eggs possible)
2 large glasses
2 – 3 cups of water

Steps To Set Up The Floating Egg Science Experiment

Ready for an egg-citing adventure? Then, follow these instructions to perform the floating egg density experiment:

Pour water into each of the glasses until they are about ¾ full.
Add the ½ cup of salt into one glass of water and stir till it is completely dissolved.
Add one of the eggs to the glass with plain water and see what happens. The egg will sink to the bottom.
Now add the second egg into the glass with the salt solution. And voila! You have a floating egg.

The Science Behind The Floating Egg Density Experiment

So, why did the egg float in the salty water, while it sank to the bottom of the glass with plain water? Let’s learn about it by understanding the science behind the floating egg experiment.

Why does the egg float in saltwater?

The egg has a lower density than the saltwater. Since the egg is lighter than the salt solution, it floats in the salty water.

Have you ever wondered why things and even humans float on the Dead Sea? It’s simple, density! The Dead Sea has an extremely high concentration of mineral salts, which increases its density. The water is so dense that even the human body is lighter than it, which makes it float.

Why does the egg sink to the bottom of the glass with plain water?

An egg has a higher density than plain water, which is why it sinks in the glass with plain water.

What is density and buoyancy?

Density is defined as the mass of a particular substance per unit volume. The relative lightness, or ability of a substance to float or rise on a liquid, is called buoyancy. Buoyancy is also the upward pressure or force exerted by a fluid, which causes an object immersed in the liquid to rise or move upwards. The buoyant force is directly proportional to the density of the liquid in which the object is immersed.

You Can Do More With The Floating Egg Science Experiment

It’s time to rack your little scientist’s brain. What else can you use to perform the floating egg experiment?

Instead of salt, use sugar and see if the egg floats in that solution.
Can the egg float in other liquids like milk, oil or even warm water?
Try the experiment with a hard boiled egg and see if it floats in water.

Check our kids learning section for more experiments, activities and other learning resources.

Frequently Asked Questions On The Floating Egg Experiment

What do you learn from the floating egg science experiment.

The floating egg science experiment is a great way to understand the concepts of density and buoyancy. Additionally, it teaches us that objects with lower density float, while those with higher density sink.

What do you need to perform the floating egg density experiment?

The floating egg experiment needs very few ingredients, all of which can be easily found in our kitchens. You’ll need water, salt, eggs and glasses to perform the experiment.

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Floating egg experiment.

In this activity, you and your child will explore how a hard-boiled egg sinks or floats in water with different amounts of salt.

Learning Area(s): Reading and Writing; Science

three wide and tall cups or glasses
hard-boiled egg
measuring cup
measuring spoons
regular spoon for mixing
journal, notebook, or a few sheets of paper stapled together

Before the activity, make a hard-boiled egg. Add the egg to a pot and cover it with water. Bring to a boil over high heat. As soon as the water starts to boil, turn off the heat and put the lid on the pot. Let the egg cook in the hot water for about 10 minutes. Then run cold water over the egg to stop the cooking process. Keep the shell on.

Start by asking your child, “What happens when you drop an object in water?” Talk about how it can sink (go to the bottom of the water) or float (stay at the top of the water). Spend some time talking about what makes an object sink or float. You can say something like, “Whether or not an object sinks or floats in water depends on its density. Density is how much space an object takes up (volume) compared to how much there is of what the object is made of (mass) .

“If an object is heavy and small, like a rock, it has a high density . When an object has a higher density than water, it will sink. If it’s light and takes up a lot of space, like a white foam cup, it has a low density . When an object has a lower density than water, it will float. Can you think of any other items with high or low density?” Discuss.

“Let’s explore the density of an egg. You will test whether an egg sinks or floats in regular water and in saltwater. How do you think the salt will affect the egg?” Allow your child to share their prediction and write it in their journal.

Glass #1: No salt. Ask your child to measure and add 2 cups of water into one of the glasses. Then have them drop in the hard-boiled egg and observe what happens. Does is sink? Does it float? Have your child record their observations in their journal. Take the egg out of the water.
Glass #2: 3 tablespoons of salt. They will measure and add 2 cups of water to this glass and mix in 3 tablespoons of salt until it is dissolved. Let your child drop the hard-boiled egg in the glass with saltwater and observe what happens. Does it sink or float? Ask them to record their observations again. Take the egg out of the water.
Glass #3: 5 tablespoons of salt. Have your child measure and add 2 cups of water and mix in 5 tablespoons of salt until it is dissolved. Then drop the egg in the saltwater. Discuss your child’s observations and have them record their observations like before.

Your child should observe how the density of water changes as they add more salt to it. They should notice the egg sinking in the first glass of water and floating at different levels in the glasses that have saltwater. After completing the experiment, ask, “What makes the hard-boiled egg sink or float in the different glasses?” and “So what does that mean?” If your child is not able to make inferences about what causes the egg to sink or flo at, review the concept of density. The egg sinks in regular water because the egg has a greater density than the water. Adding the salt increases the density of the water, so the egg floats because now the saltwater is denser than the egg.

To extend this activity, have your child draw a picture of their findings in their journal.
book: Floating and Sinking by Amy Hansen
book: Things that Float and Things that Don’t by David Adler
video from PBS: How Do Ships Float?
You can repeat this experiment with other household items to see what is more or less dense than an egg. Have your child record the object and their findings in their journal.

AGE GROUP(S):

8 years old, 9 years old, 10 years old, 11 years old

8 years old
9 years old
10 years old
11 years old

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Egg, Salt and Water Trick (OBJ LESSON)

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Teaching Them

15 minutes Description

This object lesson teaches that it isn’t enough to be Christians in this world. We need to have “saltiness” so that we help to make life better, heal those who are hurting and save those who are lost. It uses a science experiment in which you can make an egg float by adding salt to water.

Matthew 5:13
Raw eggs (2)
Salt (a small bag)
Water (enough to fill two jars three-quarters full)
Food coloring (a darker color)
Vegetable oil (optional)
2 clear jars (bigger is better for visibility, but smaller requires less salt)
Large spoon (1)

Preparation

Set out your materials on a table at the front of the room.
Find the Bible passage, and highlight it or put a bookmark in that spot so that it will be easy to find later.
Practice the script.

Use the following script and instructions (or modify to suit your needs):

“We are going to do an experiment with an egg, some salt, water, and food coloring.” (Ask for two volunteers.)
“I need each of you to fill the jar in front of you three-fourths full with water.” (Help the volunteers if needed.)
“Now, add some food coloring to each jar, and stir until the water changes color.” (Assist if needed.)
“Here are two normal eggs. They haven’t been boiled or changed in any way. They are straight from the chickens!” (Hold up the eggs, and let your volunteers hold them so that they can affirm that they are normal.)
“If I put an egg into the water, will it float or sink?” (Acknowledge responses. Then, let one volunteer carefully place the egg in the water. It will sink.)
“The water in the jar represents the world (not earth but the sinful world that is not part of God’s Kingdom).”
“The egg represents God’s children, whom He has called to be part of his Kingdom.”
“The world can be a dark place, and even a Christian can get lost in it if they act just like the world acts.”
“The problem with this egg is that it sunk down into the world.”
“God doesn’t bring us to Him for us to just get lost in the world. He has a bigger plan in mind.”
“The Bible says we are to be the salt of the earth.” (Hold up the salt, and ask a volunteer to read Matthew 5:13.)
“Salt does several things. It adds flavor to food. It can heal wounds. It can preserve meat.”
“God wants us to be like salt to the world.”
“He wants us to add flavor to life, which means that we should make life interesting and worth living for those around us.”
“He wants us to heal those who are hurting.”
“And God wants us to preserve – which means to save. He wants us to help people know about Jesus so that they can be saved.” (Ask your second volunteer to use a spoon to remove the egg from the jar. Then, have him or her pour several cups of salt into the water in his/her jar.)
“To be any good to the world, we have to mix in with it.”
“We won’t add flavor or heal or save if our saltiness stays in the bag.”
“We’ve got to mix with the world so that all the people can experience our saltiness.” (Have volunteer thoroughly stir the salt and the water together.)
“When we are salty Christians, something interesting happens to us.” (Have volunteer carefully place the egg back in the water. If there is enough salt mixed with the water, the egg will float about half in-half out of the water.)
“The Bible teaches a principle that we are to be “in” the world but not “of” the world.”
“This means that God left us in the world after we were saved even though this is not our home or our kingdom.”
“He left us here so that we could bring more people to His Kingdom, and we do that not by sinking into the world and acting like it does but by being salty Christians, who add flavor, heal and save.”
“When we are salty Christians, God will lift us up so that others notice our saltiness and will want to know about our God, who made us that way.” (Ask volunteer to read Matthew 5:13 again.)
“The last part of Matthew 5:13 says that if we lose our saltiness, we aren’t good for anything and might as well just be thrown out.”
“Like the egg without the salt, we will sink down into the world, and no one will even know that a child of God is there.”
“But if we are salty, God will lift us up and make sure that people notice.”

For dramatic effect, you can also add vegetable oil. It won’t mix with the water, and it gives the egg the look of being suspended between the two levels (heaven and earth). You can point out that when we accept Christ into our lives, we are anointed (set apart for God’s purposes). In Biblical times, anointings were done with oil.

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Recent posts, asleep in the garden (game), earthly life and eternal life (object lesson), heavenly bodies (object lesson), the roman road (lesson), strongholds (lesson), god’s recipe (object lesson).

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Egg in Vinegar Experiment – Make a Rubber Egg

The egg in vinegar experiment is a fun way of learning about egg structure, chemical reactions, osmosis, and the scientific method . It’s a safe and non-toxic project, so it’s perfect for young investigators. Other names for the egg in vinegar experiment are the naked egg, rubber egg, or bouncy egg. The “naked” part is easy to understand, because you’re removing the shell from the egg using chemistry. The “rubber” or “bouncy” description implies the egg bounces rather than breaks. Does it work? You be the judge!

The Chemistry of the Egg in Vinegar Experiment

Vinegar contains acetic acid (CH 3 COOH), which is a weak acid . Egg shells are calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ). Acetic acid reacts with calcium carbonate, making calcium acetate and carbon dioxide. Here is the balanced chemical equation for the reaction:

2 CH 3 COOH(aq) + CaCO 3 (s) → Ca(C 2 H 3 O 2 ) 2 (aq) + H 2 O(l) + CO 2 (g)

The calcium acetate dissolves in water, while the carbon dioxide is a gas and forms bubbles. So, the egg shell dissolves and bubbles away, leaving a naked egg.

What You Do

All you need for this project is an egg, vinegar, and a cup:

Cup large enough for the egg
Food coloring (optional)

Use either a raw egg or hard-boiled egg. The advantage of using a raw egg is that you can see into the inside of the egg when you are done. The advantage of using a hard-boiled egg is that it bounces after pickling in the vinegar. The raw egg bounces a bit too, but if you use too much force it breaks open and makes a mess.

Place the egg in a cup.
Pour vinegar over the egg until it is just covered. It’s okay if the egg floats a bit. If you like, add a few drops of food coloring. After about 15 minutes, observe the bubbles forming around the egg. The bubbles are carbon dioxide gas. They form from the chemical reaction between the acetic acid in the vinegar and the calcium carbonate of the egg shell. You may also feel that the cup is slightly warm. The reaction is exothermic, meaning it gives off heat. The bubbles and temperature change are two signs of a chemical change .
Wait a day. Also note that the liquid becomes cloudy or scummy. This is the dissolving egg shell.
If you remove the egg after 1 day, use a spoon. Otherwise, a raw egg easily ruptures. At this point, if you remove the egg, you can easily rinse away any remaining shell. But, you get better results if you pour off the liquid and add fresh vinegar. This is especially true if you want a rubber egg or bouncy egg. Wait another day or two, giving the vinegar time to get all the way into the egg.
Remove the egg and rinse it off using water.

Why Rotten Eggs Float in Water

Learn the scientific reason why bad eggs float in water, while good eggs sink.

Science Experiments to Try

Now that you have a rubber egg, what do you do with it?

Examine the internal structure of the egg. This only works if you started with a raw egg and not a hard-boiled one. Identify the egg membrane, yolk, egg white (albumin), and chalaza.
Compare the egg without its shell to a normal egg. Notice that the egg soaked in vinegar is slightly larger than the egg with its shell. Why is this? The reason is because water entered the rubber egg via osmosis . The concentration of salts, proteins, and other molecules inside the egg is greater than the concentration in the cup. The egg membrane is semipermeable. It allows the movement of water, but not larger molecules. So, the egg swells with water to try to dilute the inside of the egg so it has the same concentration and outside of the egg. Experiment : Predict what happens if you soak the rubber egg in corn syrup, salt water, or sugar water. Compare the size of this egg with a normal egg and a rubber egg. Corn syrup, salt water, or sugar water shrink the egg because the liquid is more concentrated the interior of the egg. Here, water leaves the egg via osmosis.
Try bouncing the egg. In addition to dissolving the egg shell, vinegar also pickles the egg. It changes the conformation of protein molecules in the egg white. Because vinegar has a low pH, it also helps preserve the egg. Experiment : Compare how well a rubber egg bounces depending on whether you started with a raw egg or hard-boiled egg.

Can You Eat the Egg?

Eating an egg after soaking it in vinegar is not a great plan. First, it won’t taste great. Second, it could make you sick. If you must eat your experiment, soak a hard-boiled egg in vinegar in the refrigerator for a few days.

Does the Egg in Vinegar Smell Like Rotten Eggs?

Mostly, the egg comes out of this project smelling like vinegar. Vinegar pickles the egg, which preserves it. But, once you remove the egg from vinegar it starts decomposing. After enough time, if you break the egg, it will stink. The odor comes from hydrogen sulfide gas, which is a product of the decomposition reactions in the egg.

Of course, if you start the project with a rotten egg, all bets are off. Rupturing the membrane releases any trapped gases. Bounce these egg with care!

Do Hard Boiled Eggs Float? – What Does It Mean?

Ever put eggs in a pot of boiling water only to find that they float? If you’re wondering why this happens then the answer may surprise you!

Do hard-boiled eggs float? What does it mean? The ability of eggs to float happens to be a great indicator of their overall quality. If the eggs float, then they are probably old and not fresh. Recently bought and fresh eggs have fewer microscopic air sacs that prevent the egg from floating.

Read below to learn more about why eggs can float, some tests that you can do before hard-boiling eggs, and how to spot signs of spoilage.

Do Hardboiled Eggs Float?

Eggs are an integral part of the human diet and are enjoyed in several ways across the world. Perhaps the best (and most convenient) way to eat them is by boiling them.

Hard boiling is a simple process where a whole egg is boiled in water until the inside is firm and fully cooked.

This method of preparing and eating eggs is as old as time!

Not only is this an excellent way to get nutrition, but it is also one of the easiest ways to cook eggs with minimal equipment.

Just fill a pot with water, put the eggs in so that they sink, and then turn on the heat! Cook the eggs for 8-10 minutes or as needed and voila.

You might have noticed that we mentioned that the eggs “sink” to the bottom of the pot before boiling them.

Well, it turns out that this is an important part of preparing hard-boiled eggs because it also determines the quality of the eggs.

Eggshells are made of a combination of calcium carbonate and a bit of protein. The structures are arranged in matrices with a few irregularities that reinforce the overall structure of the egg.

This arrangement gives the egg its durability too.

If you put a fresh eggshell under the microscope, you will notice that it has interwoven textures without any gaps. This is one of the biggest reasons why the egg sinks to the pot!

Since the egg is denser than water and there are no air bubbles around it, it sinks when added to a pot of room-temperature water.

But if you add an old egg to the pot, it will likely float . If you repeat the observation above and swap out the fresh eggshell with the old one, you will notice that the old eggshell has many defects in its structure. These defects occur as the egg ages.

As air circulates the egg, the oxygen molecules oxidize the compounds on the surface which leads to deterioration. This deterioration usually presents as microscopic gaps or air sacs.

These small gaps allow air to get trapped around the surface of the egg which not only makes it float, but also speeds up the spoiling process!

Don’t worry though, just because you hard-boiled a floating egg doesn’t mean that it is bad.

In fact, the egg may still be good to eat – it is just that the outer shell has deteriorated slightly.

But for many people, this can be a dealbreaker. A lot of picky eaters usually test the egg in a separate bowl of water to determine its quality.

If the eggs float, then they are usually discarded or, if possible, returned.

Picking Good Quality Eggs

As per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), egg manufacturers must properly label their eggs so that they clearly show the expiration date.

But even before the date is printed, the eggs are first collected using a meticulous manufacturing process.

After the hens lay the eggs, they are transported onto a conveyer belt where they are washed and screened for any lingering chicken feces (gross, we know).

Once the eggs pass all the quality checks, they are stamped with a batch number and an expiration date.

This date shows how long the egg will remain edible until it goes bad in the traditional sense.

But what they don’t tell you is that the quality of the egg may also deteriorate before the expiration date.

As we mentioned above, old eggs that float in water aren’t necessarily bad, their buoyancy just indicates how fresh or old they are.

In most cases, floating eggs will likely be good to eat but there are also a few quick tests that you can perform to double-check their quality.

We’ll get to the tests in a bit, let’s first take a look at how you can pick the freshest eggs for you and your family.

Here is what to look out for:

Cracked Eggs

Did you know, eggs are lightly tapped by a machine that acoustically checks the eggs for cracks? When a cracked egg is tapped, it gives a slightly different sound than an uncracked egg.

Luckily, you don’t have to do this test as they are already done at the manufacturer’s end.

However, despite the eggs passing this test, they can still crack anywhere from the factory floor to the supermarket. Sometimes a light tap at the right angle is all it takes for the eggs to develop micro-cracks.

These cracks are very small and may be as thin as a strand of hair – but they are enough to cause the eggs to go bad quickly.

The longer the egg is left in storage, the more it will go down in quality, especially around the cracked region.

This is why we highly recommend that you buy eggs from a reputable store and go for high-quality free-range eggs.

These eggs are sold at a higher price point, but they are arguably better in terms of quality and nutrition – plus they are also animal-friendly!

You don’t have to zoom in and check every egg individually, just a glance should tell you if the eggs are free of cracks.

If you want to be thorough, then you can also check them closely before you shift the eggs to an egg tray in your fridge.

Expiration Date

A basic rule for always getting fresh eggs is to buy as close to the manufacturing date.

Most stores replenish their stock of eggs daily, but if you live in an area that doesn’t see a lot of footfall in stores, then there is a chance that you might run into older eggs.

For the best experience, try to get eggs that are manufactured within 1-2 days . You can even go up to 3-4 days – but if you go for week-old eggs then there is a good chance that they will float! These eggs will be safe to eat but they won’t be as fresh.

Signs of Spoilage and Tests

Here are a few quick and easy tests that can help you detect signs of spoilage:

Checking for Color Changes

Eggs are not known to undergo color changes. So, if you notice any odd colors or spots around the egg, then it’s safe to assume that they have gone bad. It is best to discard these eggs, even if they don’t float.

Checking Surface for Large Cracks

While micro-cracks may be difficult to detect, they don’t immediately put the quality of the egg at risk as it can take time for air to work through these small cracks.

But in the case of larger (and visible) cracks, it is best that you discard these eggs because they might be contaminated!

Cracking the Egg

This method is for people who want to be sure about the quality and safety of the eggs. If you don’t mind eating a poached egg, then we recommend that you crack any eggs that float to confirm whether they are safe to eat.

Crack the eggs in a separate bowl and then check for obvious signs of spoilage like a runny consistency, odd color, dark spots, blood, or a foul odor. If the eggs are free of these signs, then you can either fry them or poach them!

Can fresh eggs still float?

The only time fresh eggs will float in water is when you add salt to the water. Salt raises the density of water which in turn causes the egg to float- regardless of its freshness. You can even do a quick and fun experiment at home to see this phenomenon.

If you haven’t added salt to the water and the eggs still float, then it is likely that they were damaged during transportation.

Do hard-boiled eggs float when cooked?

As the eggs boil in water, the air bubbles caused by evaporation may push the eggs to the top of the pot. This is completely normal and doesn’t reflect the quality of the eggs. It is also possible for hardboiled eggs to float, especially if they crack while boiling.

Hi, I'm Jaron, the food enthusiast and founder of Foodsguy.com. I started this blog because someone told me I couldn't and before I knew it, I was doing it purely out of my love for food. When I'm not chasing around my kids or hanging out with my partner you'll probably find me making a mess of things in the kitchen.

What Does it Mean When an Egg Floats When Boiling Eggs?

It doesn't necessarily mean you have a bad egg..

An egg that floats in boiling water can be an indication that it's not fresh. However, there are a few other possible explanations for what it means when eggs are floating when boiling in hot water. There's actually a scientific explanation for why eggs sink in fresh water but float in salted water.

Egg Buoyancy and Density

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An object will sink if it is denser than a buoyant force — in this case, the water — and an object will float if its weight is less than the buoyant force. Because fresh water is less dense than salt water, the egg sinks in fresh water. Because salty water is more dense than the egg, it floats in salt water.

Do Eggs Float in Water?

Salty water aside, there is a second reason that may cause an egg to float in boiling water. An egg can float in water when its air cell is sufficiently large enough to keep the egg buoyant. Soon after an egg is laid, it naturally cools, creating a small air space as its contents contract. The air cell is found at the larger end of the egg between the inner and outer membranes.

Eggs develop larger air cells as they age, but they are often still perfectly good to eat.

Do Rotten Eggs Float in Water?

As an egg ages, this air cell grows larger as the yolk and white further contract. Therefore, an older egg is less dense and you're more likely to see floating eggs when boiling them.

Store-bought eggs can last several weeks beyond their sell-by date or expiration date. To reduce the chances of eggs going bad, keep them refrigerated.

If you see floating eggs when boiling them, your eggs are likely old, but the test doesn't necessarily mean they're bad to eat.

Do Cracked Eggs Float?

If the egg's shell is cracked, egg white will leak out into the boiling water. This reduces the mass of the egg, making it easier for the egg to float. Some bits of boiled egg white will float around in the saucepan of boiling water, which is unattractive but harmless.

How to Boil Eggs

A saucepan with boiled chicken eggs on an electric stove

Take care not to crack the eggshells when lowering eggs into boiling water. It's best to use a slotted spoon to gently lower the eggs into the saucepan.

Alternatively, start with the eggs covered by an inch of cold water and bring the water to a boil. There's no need to add salt to the water or to cover the saucepan.

Hard-boiled eggs require 10 to 12 minutes in boiling water, depending on how you like them.

Once they've been in the boiling water for your desired time, stop cooking immediately by placing the eggs in a bowl of ice water. They'll begin to cool down so that you can peel and enjoy them in minutes.

Floating Eggs Experiment

The only items needed for this simple egg test are an egg, a tall glass, water, table salt, and a tablespoon.

Fill a glass halfway with water.
Place an egg in the glass of water. The egg will sink to the bottom of the glass.
Add a tablespoon of salt to the water and stir.
Continue adding and stirring salt into the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the egg floats to the top. Three tablespoons of salt should be enough to make the average-sized chicken egg float.

The experiment can also be conducted with two eggs and two separate glasses, one for the unsalted water, a kind of control, and the other for the salted water.

Because there's no boiling water involved in this experiment, it's a great (and safe) visual for kids to learn about density.

The Sniff Test: The Best Way to Tell if Eggs Are Bad

If you're not sure if your eggs have gone bad, test the quality of an egg before consuming it. Rotten eggs have a very distinct, offensive odor — you'll know if your egg smells rotten. Just give a quick sniff when cracking an egg open to ensure its freshness, as rotten eggs can cause food poisoning. Any question about whether an egg is safe for eating will be readily resolved.

Do Boiled Eggs Float?

If you boil eggs often, you may have noticed that some boiled eggs float in water while some do not.

There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about floating eggs, and many people think that eggs that float are rotten or that hard-boiled eggs are supposed to float … so what’s the truth?

What makes some eggs float, and are floating eggs safe to eat?

Raw and whole cooked eggs will float in water when the egg is older. This is because all eggs have a pocket of air inside them, called the air cell.

Over time, the egg loses moisture, and the air cell gets larger. When the air cell inside the shell is large enough, it will make the egg float in water.

So, a floating egg, whether raw or boiled, is a sign that the egg is older, but it may still be perfectly safe to eat. A floating egg is not a sign that it’s bad, fully cooked, or unsafe to eat.

Read on to learn more.

Table of Contents

Are Boiled Eggs Supposed to Float?

Boiled eggs are not supposed to float, but floating isn’t a sign that the egg is bad.

Some eggs will float in fresh water while some will sink, and the idea that a boiled egg floats when done is a myth.

There are three reasons that an egg may float while it is boiling. Let’s get into them.

It’s an Old Egg

The shell of an egg is slightly permeable to air, and over time the moisture inside an egg will evaporate, and more air will get inside the shell. Fresh eggs still have a lot of moisture and less air and will sink while boiling. Older eggs will float.

The Shell is Cracked

If you are boiling an egg, and the shell is cracked, some of the egg white will leak out into the water, making the egg weigh less and float.

You’re Cooking it in Saltwater

All eggs will float in heavily salted water. Adding salt to water makes the water denser, and the denser water can support the weight of an egg.

Do Hard Boiled Eggs Float When They are Done?

No, hard-boiled eggs do not float when they are done. Eggs float when they are old due to the enlargement of their air cell, not because they are hard-boiled.

A fresh egg will sink whether it’s raw or boiled, while an older egg might float in both states.

Why is My Boiled Egg Floating?

A boiled egg is probably floating because it is older and not as fresh as eggs that sink.

Older eggs have larger air cells inside of them, which makes them float in fresh water.

However, floating is not a sign that your egg is rotten or unsafe to eat.

Your boiled egg may also be floating because a small crack in the shell allowed some of the egg white to leak out, making the egg lighter in weight.

Can You Eat Eggs that Float?

You can eat eggs that float.

Many people use the “float test” to see how fresh their eggs are, so they can decide how best to prepare them.

Floating eggs are older and not as fresh as eggs that sink, but they are still usually safe to eat.

If an Egg Floats in Cold Water, is it Bad?

An egg that floats in cold water is older than an egg that sinks, but that doesn’t mean the egg is bad.

However, if your egg floats before or during boiling, check it before eating it.

Let’s discuss some things you can do to check if your egg has gone bad.

Inspect the Eggshell Before Purchasing or Using the Eggs

If the eggshell has a crack or dent on it, bacteria may have been able to get inside the egg.

Never buy eggs that are cracked.

If eggs crack after you have bought them as you are bringing them home, immediately break the eggs and empty the whites and yolks into a clean airtight container, and place them in the refrigerator.

Use these eggs within two days.

Note: if an eggshell cracks while boiling the egg, it is still safe to eat.

Crack the Egg Open and Smell It

If you’re boiling eggs, you can boil the egg until it is done, but still, open it and smell it before eating it.

Whether raw or cooked, bad eggs have a distinctive unpleasant smell. Never eat an egg that has a bad smell.

Inspect the Egg White

A fresh egg will have a slightly cloudy or milky egg white, while an older egg will have a clear egg white.

The egg white will also become thinner and more watery over time, while the whites of a fresh egg are thicker and more gel-like.

Egg whites should never be pinkish or greenish in color or have an iridescent quality; if the egg white has a funny color or texture, discard the egg and don’t eat it.

Check the Expiration Date

Egg packaging has an expiration or “use-by” date.

Make sure that you use eggs within the recommended time frame.

Why Do Boiled Eggs Float in Saltwater?

All eggs float in salt water if it is salty enough.

Adding salt to water makes the water denser.

When the water becomes dense enough, it will support the weight of an egg.

Because some people boil eggs in heavily salted water, their eggs are much more likely to float during cooking.

Tips for Choosing the Best Eggs for Boiling

If you are looking for the best eggs for boiling, here are some things to look for or do:

Most standard recipes are written for large eggs, and most instructions for boiling give the timing for large eggs.

Smaller eggs will cook more quickly, while jumbo eggs need to be cooked longer.

Here’s a quick guide to egg sizes so you can adjust your recipes for egg size:

Small eggs weigh about 1.5 ounces
Medium eggs weigh about 1.75 ounces
Large eggs weigh about 2 ounces
Extra-large eggs weigh about 2.25 ounces
Jumbo eggs weigh about 2.5 ounces

Older eggs are best for hard boiling and other “hard-cooked” preparation methods like a hard scramble, hard fry, or a folded omelet.

However, fresh eggs should be used when the eggs will be only lightly cooked, as in poaching, soft boiling, or gently heated sauces like hollandaise.

Older eggs are also easier to peel when hard-boiled because the egg’s internal membrane dries out and retracts from the egg white over time.

Bring the Eggs to Room Temperature Before Boiling

Take the eggs out of the refrigerator and allow them to rest on the countertop while you boil the water.

Then add the room-temperature eggs to the boiling water.

Boiling eggs at room temperature helps to prevent the shells from cracking as they cook.

Salt the Water For Boiling Eggs

Some people think that boiling eggs in salt water helps to impart more flavor to the eggs.

While this may be a side effect, it is not the main reason to boil eggs in salt water.

Adding salt to the water increases the water temperature, cooking the eggs more quickly and evenly.

Boiling eggs in salty water also helps to prevent any egg white from leaking out if the shells crack.

Cool the Eggs Quickly

For the best boiled eggs, cool your cooked eggs rapidly and completely.

Then, place cooked eggs in a bowl of ice water and place the bowl in the refrigerator to stop the cooking process and prevent overcooking.

Shocking the eggs in ice water also makes them easier to peel.

Peel the Eggs as Soon as They’ve Cooled

For easy-to-peel hard-boiled eggs, crack and peel them as soon as they have cooled and are comfortable to handle.

Allowing the eggs to sit too long can make them more difficult to peel.

Adding baking soda or vinegar to the water while boiling eggs can also help with making them easier to peel.

Now you know whether hard-boiled eggs float, what makes them float, and how to ensure your eggs are safe and healthy to eat even if they are floating.

So, enjoy the best boiled eggs with our helpful tips, and never worry about floating eggs again.

Are White Eggs Bleached? (Answered!)

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Science Experiments

Is the Egg Hard Boiled or Raw Science Experiment

Did you know that you can use science to determine if an egg is hard-boiled or raw without cracking the shell? It’s true! Just give the eggs a spin and observe what happens next!

In this easy science experiment, kids can make a hypothesis, observe inertia in action, and discover the science behind what makes it work.

Bonus, this experiment also comes in handy if you can’t remember which eggs in your fridge are hard-boiled and which ones aren’t!

JUMP TO SECTION: Instructions | Video Tutorial | How it Works | Purchase Lab Kit

Supplies Needed

1 Hard-Boiled Egg

Hard Boiled or Raw Science Lab Kit – Only $5

Use our easy Hard Boiled or Raw Science Lab Kit to grab your students’ attention without the stress of planning!

It’s everything you need to make science easy for teachers and fun for students — using inexpensive materials you probably already have in your storage closet!

iS The Egg Hard Boiled Science Experiment Instructions

Step 1 – Prepare a bowl of 3 eggs, 2 raw eggs, and 1 hard-boiled egg. Take a moment to make some observations about the eggs. Do they look the same? Do they feel the same? Can you notice any difference in the eggs? Take a moment to write down your observations.

Step 2 – Carefully take one egg out of the bowl and spin it on the table. Observe what happens. Does the egg continue to spin or does it stop spinning very quickly? Write down your findings.

Helpful Tip: It is important to spin the egg on a hard flat surface.

Step 3 – Next, repeat with the other two eggs. Observing and writing down the behavior each time. When you are finished review your observations. Did the eggs all behave the same? You probably noticed that one of the eggs behaved differently than the other two. This is the hard-boiled egg. Do you know why it behaved differently?

Find out the answer in the how does this experiment work section below.

Video Tutorial

How Does the Science Experiment Work

While the two eggs look and feel the same, there is a big difference in what’s inside the eggs. Inside the raw egg, the egg white and egg yolk are fluid and can move around inside the shell. Inside the hard-boiled egg however, the egg white and egg yolk are solid and do not move around inside the shell.

When you spin the hard-boiled egg, everything moves together and the egg will continue in a smooth spinning motion. However, when you spin the raw egg, the fluid inside moves around and causes the egg to wobble.

When you try to stop the eggs from spinning by slightly touching them, the hard-boiled egg easily stops spinning, but the raw egg will keep turning a little bit. When you try to stop the raw egg, your touch stops the shell, but the fluid inside the egg continues to move, which causes the egg to remain spinning.

The raw egg’s resistance to stopping spinning is a great example of inertia. Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist a change in motion. The inertia of the raw egg is greater than the inertia of the hard-boiled egg. Inertia is the reason you keep moving forward when a vehicle stops suddenly.

More Science Fun

Enjoyed this egg-citing experiment? Then you’ll want to try your hand at these other egg science experiments.

Egg in a Bottle – Use a little science magic to get the egg into the bottle without touching it.
Floating Egg – Eggs naturally sink, but we make them float. Find out how and then give it a try.
Bouncy Egg – Remove the shell from a raw egg and make it bounce!

I hope you enjoyed the experiment. Here are some printable instructions:

Is the Egg Hard Boiled or Raw Experiment - Steps

Hard Boiled Egg Science Experiment

Two Raw Eggs
One Hard Boiled Egg

Instructions

Prepare a bowl of 3 eggs, 2 raw eggs and 1 hard boiled egg.
Take one egg out of the bowl and spin it on the table. Observe what happens. Does the egg continue spin or does it stop? Helpful Tip: It is important to spin the egg on a hard flat surface.
Next, repeat with the other two eggs. Observing the behavior each time. One of the eggs behaved differently than the other two. This is the hard boiled egg.

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Floating Egg Science Experiment-Comparing Eggs

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COMMENTS

Salty Science: Floating Eggs in Water
Add one half cup of salt to the large container and stir to dissolve some of the salt (it will not all dissolve yet). Add one more cup of water to the large container (making two and one half cups ...
Floating Egg Science Experiment
Step 1 - Fill a tall drinking glass about 3/4 full of water and carefully place the egg into the glass. What happens to the egg? That's right, it sinks to the bottom. Did you know there is a way to make it float? Continue on in the experiment to find out how. Step 2 - Fill another tall drinking glass about 3/4 full of water.
Floating Egg Science Experiment-Comparing Eggs
Materials for Floating Egg Science Experiment. Two glasses 2/3 full of water. Two containers of salt (Lovey measured 3/4 of a cup, but you could do the experiment with a bit less.) One raw egg. One hard-boiled egg (Mark one egg so you can tell the difference.)
Floating Egg Experiment
Why egg in salt water solution floats? The egg in tap water sinks at the bottom. The egg is denser than the fresh water this causes it to sink.The egg in sal...
Floating Eggs
You can perform the experiment with hard-boiled eggs to get similar results. Egg Float Test to Check for Bad Eggs. Egg shells are porous. As eggs become old, the fluid inside them evaporates, with air and oxygen filling up the interiors. You can perform a floating egg test to check if your eggs have become bad. A fresh egg will simply sink to ...
Salty Science: Floating Eggs in Water
Be sure to always wash your hands after handling uncooked eggs because they may carry Salmonella. Pour 1 ½ cups of water into your large container. Add ½ cup of salt to the large container and stir to dissolve some of the salt (it will not all dissolve yet). Add one more cup of water to the large container (making 2 ½ cups total) and stir to ...
How much salt will make an egg float?
Hard-boiled eggs have a different internal structure that affects their density, making them less suitable for this particular experiment. In conclusion, the amount of salt required to make an egg float depends on several factors, including the size of the egg and the amount of water used.
How Salty Does the Sea Have to Be for an Egg to Float?
Does a hard-boiled egg float at the same salt concentration as an uncooked one? Hint: You will need to measure the same egg before and after hard boiling and be very precise about your serial dilutions. Find out how much salt there is in sea water. From the results of your experiment, predict whether an egg would float or sink in sea water.
Salt Water Egg Experiment
Procedures. Fill the two containers with tap water. Add about 6 tablespoons of salt in one container and stir it well with a tablespoon until the salt has completely dissolved in the water. Place one egg in each of the containers and observe which one of the eggs float in the container and which one sinks.
Floating Eggs: A Pre-Breakfast Experiment
To begin your floating eggs experiment, fill your two containers with water. Make sure the amounts are equal. When you're doing a comparing experiment like this, all the variables, or factors that make up the project, should be the same -- except one (in this case, salt water instead of fresh water). Use the measuring spoons to pour seven ...
PDF FLOAT AN EGG
FLOAT AN EGG TYPE OF ACTIVITY: Science KEY CONCEPT: Eat a variety of foods ... Show children an uncooked egg and a hard-boiled egg, and talk about the differences between the two. Encourage them to use their senses to compare the eggs. Repeat the floating and sinking experiment with the hard-boiled egg. Day 3: Proteins. Created Date:
Floating Egg Science Experiment
The egg in the picture above only took two tablespoons. What Happened? and Variations: Adding salt changes the density of the water. The egg's density does not change. When the water is more dense than the egg, the egg will float. Try the science experiment with a boiled egg and/or other solutes (instead of salt).
Floating Egg
The salt water is saturated with the salt, which makes it more dense. The egg is less dense than the salt water, so the it floats to the top. When the fresh water is poured into the jar, it also floats above the salt water. However, the water on its own is less dense than the egg, so the egg doesn't move. The egg floats at the top of the salt ...
Floating Eggs: A Pre-Breakfast Experiment
use eggs (and a few scoops of salt) to study the science of floating. Problem: Will an egg float better in salt water or fresh water? Materials: Salt 2 clear containers Measuring spoons Stirring spoon Water 2 raw eggs Procedure: 1. To begin your floating eggs experiment, fill your two containers with water. Make sure the amounts are equal. When ...
The Egg Float Test: How to Tell If Your Eggs Are Still Fresh
Give the egg float test a try—here are three possible outcomes: The egg sinks and falls to its side. Hooray, you have a fresh egg! Now go make Ree Drummond's eggs Benedict. The egg sinks, but stands upright at the bottom. Get cracking—your egg is still okay to eat, but you should use it relatively quickly. The egg starts to float up slightly.
Floating Egg Experiment
The floating egg science experiment is a simple and inexpensive way to help kids understand their lessons on density. All you need are some eggs and saltwater. Here is a list of things you'll need to perform the experiment: 2 Eggs (ensure they are the freshest eggs possible) 2 large glasses. 2 - 3 cups of water. ½ cup salt.
Floating Egg Experiment
LET'S PLAY. Before the activity, make a hard-boiled egg. Add the egg to a pot and cover it with water. Bring to a boil over high heat. As soon as the water starts to boil, turn off the heat and put the lid on the pot. Let the egg cook in the hot water for about 10 minutes. Then run cold water over the egg to stop the cooking process.
Egg, Salt and Water Trick (OBJ LESSON)
November 24, 2012. Time. 15 minutes. Description. This object lesson teaches that it isn't enough to be Christians in this world. We need to have "saltiness" so that we help to make life better, heal those who are hurting and save those who are lost. It uses a science experiment in which you can make an egg float by adding salt to water.
Egg in Vinegar Experiment
The raw egg bounces a bit too, but if you use too much force it breaks open and makes a mess. Place the egg in a cup. Pour vinegar over the egg until it is just covered. It's okay if the egg floats a bit. If you like, add a few drops of food coloring. After about 15 minutes, observe the bubbles forming around the egg.
Do Hard Boiled Eggs Float?
This deterioration usually presents as microscopic gaps or air sacs. These small gaps allow air to get trapped around the surface of the egg which not only makes it float, but also speeds up the spoiling process! Don't worry though, just because you hard-boiled a floating egg doesn't mean that it is bad. In fact, the egg may still be good ...
What Does it Mean When an Egg Floats When Boiling Eggs?
Hard-boiled eggs require 10 to 12 minutes in boiling water, depending on how you like them. ... Floating Eggs Experiment. The only items needed for this simple egg test are an egg, a tall glass, water, table salt, and a tablespoon. Fill a glass halfway with water. Place an egg in the glass of water. The egg will sink to the bottom of the glass.
Do Boiled Eggs Float? Myth vs. Fact Explained!
A boiled egg is probably floating because it is older and not as fresh as eggs that sink. Older eggs have larger air cells inside of them, which makes them float in fresh water. However, floating is not a sign that your egg is rotten or unsafe to eat. Your boiled egg may also be floating because a small crack in the shell allowed some of the ...
Is the Egg Hard Boiled or Raw Science Experiment
How Does the Science Experiment Work. While the two eggs look and feel the same, there is a big difference in what's inside the eggs. Inside the raw egg, the egg white and egg yolk are fluid and can move around inside the shell. Inside the hard-boiled egg however, the egg white and egg yolk are solid and do not move around inside the shell.

Salty Science: Floating Eggs in Water

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How much salt will make an egg float?

What happens when you put an egg in water?

How does salt affect the density of water?

Why does adding salt increase water’s density?

What is the relationship between salt concentration and water density?

How can we make an egg float using salt?

What should be the water temperature for this experiment?

Can I use any type of salt for this experiment?

Can I use other objects instead of an egg?

What happens if I add too much salt?

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Can I use this experiment to understand density?

Can I perform this experiment with hard-boiled eggs?

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