You couldn’t have Easter without some eggs! This Easter science experiment is a favourite in the Science Wows house, so much so that we are always trying new variations. Here are three favourite egg experiments – we give you Eggs 3 Ways With These Fun Easter Science Experiments For Kids.
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Dr Naomi Lavelle has shared three egg-stra fun science experiments for kids that you can do at home. Try to make a bouncy egg, then make it change colour and finally make it glow in the dark!
Fun Easter Science Experiments for Kids
#1. How to Make a Bouncy Egg
Firstly, how to make a bouncy egg; This is a really simple experiment, you probably have everything you need already in your kitchen and it is guaranteed to entertain both the young and the young at heart!
You will need:
- Clear malt vinegar
- A glass or cup
- A whole raw egg.
What to do:
- Place the raw egg in the glass and cover with vinegar, making sure the egg is completely covered.
- Leave overnight or up to 48 hours if necessary.
- After this time, remove the egg carefully and rinse it in a bowl of water.
What has happened:
When the egg is in the vinegar you will notice some bubbles forming and eventually a foam will appear at the surface of the vinegar. The eggshell is made up of calcium carbonate.
The vinegar (an acid) reacts with the calcium carbonate (a base) producing a salt and a gas called carbon dioxide (these are the bubbles you see). The vinegar will keep reacting with the calcium carbonate until it is all gone, leaving the egg contained in just the cell membrane.
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2. Make Your Egg Change Colour
Next place the egg into an empty glass and cover with water, add at least two teaspoons of your chosen food colouring and leave overnight again.
The next day carefully remove the egg from the coloured water, rinse and pat dry (you may find your fingers will get a little stained from the food colouring but it will wash off).
What has happened:
The membrane of the egg is what is called “semi-permeable”. It acts as a barrier to some particles while allowing others through. The membrane allows water to pass through it.
There is more water outside the egg than inside it and, as Nature likes to neutralise such imbalances, some of the water travels into the egg (this process is called osmosis).
The egg will swell a little with the extra water. As the water entering the egg is coloured, the egg becomes coloured too!
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#3. Make Your Egg Glow
We made a bouncy egg and we coloured it… what else is there to do now but make it glow!
You will need:
- Vinegar
- A raw egg
- A cup or glass,
- A fluorescent (highlighter) pen
- UV (black) light*
What to do:
- Wearing gloves, open the fluorescent pen and place the inner part (containing the fluorescent ink) into the bottle of vinegar. Shake well and leave for an hour or more.
- Repeat the bouncy egg experiment but this time uses the fluorescent vinegar; leave the egg in the vinegar for 48 hours.
- Wearing gloves, carefully remove the egg and wash the egg in a bowl of water.
- In a dark room turn off all light and turn on the UV (black) light and see how the egg glows.
What is happening:
The vinegar dissolves away the egg shell, just as before, leaving the egg contained within the semi-permeable membrane.
However, as the vinegar is infused with fluorescent dye, this seeps into the colours the egg. The fluorescent dye glows under UV light.
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Lots more Science Fun over at my Dr. How’s Science Wows Blog.
Over to you! Your kids enjoy doing experiments at home? Let us know your favourites in comments below.
About the Author: Naomi Lavelle
