Praxis Science Outreach Science Smarts Column: Chemistry Fun With Leftover Eggs From Easter Break

April 6, 2024

The latest Praxis ‘Science Smarts’ column in the Medicine Hat News. The article may also be found in the Medicine Hat News (paper) or via digital copy at https://medicinehatnews.com/life/local-life/2024/04/06/science-smarts-chemistry-fun-with-leftover-eggs-from-easter-break/ or via PressReader at https://www.pressreader.com/canada/medicine-hat-news/20240406/281689734835613.

I do not know if you “over shopped” for the holiday weekend like I did but I have a ton of eggs left to use. Of course, they are not going to go to waste in this house, we are going to do some science with them! Let’s get started.

*Remember to ask an adult before doing this experiment.

Materials

• Glass jar or clear drinking glass

• Science notebook

• Pen or pencil

• Egg

• CH₃COOH (white vinegar)

• Area to store your experiment for a day or two

• Patience

Procedure

1. Place one egg in the jar.

2. Pour enough vinegar over the egg to cover it.

3. Make some observations in your science notebook.

4. Place the experiment in an area where it can be undisturbed for a day or so.

5. Check back every six hours and record your observations.

6. What happens?

What is going on?

You should have observed that once you poured the vinegar over the egg there were bubbles floating to the top. These bubbles are carbon dioxide being released from the chemical reaction between the vinegar (CH₃COOH) and the egg shell which contains calcium carbonate (CaC0₃). As the egg sits in the vinegar, it slowly dissolves the calcium carbonate. Eventually your egg will be naked! There will be no shell left. Carefully remove it at this stage and feel it and make more observations!

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Patty Rooks, Senior Scientific Consultant – PRAXIS: Connecting Science and The Community of SE Alberta

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Praxis Science Outreach still continues to do science outreach in southeastern Alberta but because of financial constraints, we are making some program changes.

See https://praxisscienceconnection.wordpress.com/2023/02/09/praxis-science-outreach-society-program-changes/ for the details regarding our programs.

Webpage: https://www.praxismedhat.com/

Twitter (X):  https://twitter.com/PraxisMedHat

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/PraxisMedHat

We also have another blog for events, activities and services that we offer. One of our latest posts was “The 2024 SE Alberta Kiwanis Regional Science Fair Awards Have Been Announced!”

THE 2024 SOUTHEAST ALBERTA KIWANIS REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR AWARDS

We also posted various photos for the 2024 SE Alberta Kiwanis Regional Science Fair at:

The 2024 “SOUTHEAST ALBERTA KIWANIS REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR” Event Photos

If you wish to support us (Praxis Science Outreach is a registered charity) please consider doing so at:

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/praxis-society-southeastern-alberta-sciencing-and-teching-center/?mprompt=1.

We are located at #12 826 11 Street S. E., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 1T7

Phone: 403.527.5365 or email: praxis@praxismh.ca

                                                                        G.Mc (Praxis Board Member)