LESSON 6: Rubber Eggs ESTIMATED TIME Setup: 5–10 Minutes | Procedure: the Effects Can Be Observed Over a 3–5 Day Period
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LESSON 6: Rubber Eggs ESTIMATED TIME Setup: 5–10 minutes | Procedure: The effects can be observed over a 3–5 day period. • DESCRIPTION It is recommended that this experiment be Soak eggs in vinegar to initiate a chemical reaction started at the beginning of a week. and dissolve the eggshell. This experiment can be performed with a raw • OBJECTIVE egg, but you will need to remind students to be This lesson demonstrates a chemical reaction between especially careful to avoid a mess. Following the the acetic acid in vinegar and the calcium in eggshells. experiment, a raw egg will be very soft and delicate. Students will add hard-boiled eggs to different solutions to observe a chemical reaction. The lesson Always remember to use the appropriate safety can be extended to explore acids and bases and equipment when conducting your experiment. chemistry in the human body. Refer to the Safety First section in the Resource Guide on pages 421–423 for more detailed information about • CONTENT TOPICS safety in the classroom. Scientific inquiry; elements and compounds; mixtures; chemical reactions; food chemistry; Jump ahead to page 82 to view the chemistry in the human body; health; acids and bases Experimental Procedure. • MATERIALS o Hard-boiled eggs o Vinegar o Clear jars or cups o Measuring cup NATIONAL SCIENCE EDUCATION STANDARDS SUBJECT MATTER This lesson applies bothDimension 1: Scientific and Engineering Practicesand Dimension 2: Crosscutting Concepts from “A Framework for K–12 Science Education,” established as a guide for the updated National Science Education Standards. In addition, this lesson covers the following Disciplinary Core Ideas from that framework: • PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter • PS1.B: Chemical Reactions • LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms • ETS2.B: Influence of Engineering, Technology, and Science on Society and the Natural World (see Analysis & Conclusion) OBSERVATION & RESEARCH BACKGROUND made up of the elements hydrogen and oxygen in a 2:1 Matter is often classified as either a pure substance or a ratio. Two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom join mixture. All matter is made up of basic elements. together, giving water the chemical formula H2O. Elements are pure substances that cannot be broken Eggshells contain the element calcium in the form of the down further by normal chemical means. They are compound calcium carbonate. Vinegar is a mixture of known as the building blocks of matter. A compound is a water and a substance called acetic acid. A mixture is made pure substance made up of two or more elements joined of two or more substances that are combined physically. in a defined ratio. For example, water is a compound You Be TheLESSON Chemist ® 1:ActivityActivityGoofy Guides Guide Putty || page 79 79 LESSON 6: Rubber Eggs When you let an egg soak in vinegar, the acetic acid will CONNECT TO THE YOU BE THE react with the calcium carbonate in the eggshell (along CHEMIST CHALLENGE with the fats and proteins in the egg). As a result of this reaction, the vinegar completely dissolves the shell, For additional background information, please leaving behind the soft and bouncy hard-boiled egg, review CEF’s Challenge study materials online at covered only by a thin membrane. http://www.chemed.org/ybtc/challenge/study.aspx. • Additional information on pure substances and The reaction in this experiment is an example of a mixtures can be found in the Classification of chemical reaction. A chemical reaction is a change that Matter section of CEF’s Passport to Science takes place when atoms of a substance are rearranged, Exploration: The Core of Chemistry. and the bonds between the atoms are broken or formed. During a chemical reaction, the structure or composition • Additional information on chemical reactions can of the materials changes. When a chemical change is be found in the Chemical Reactions section of complete, the resulting substance(s) is/are different from CEF’s Passport to Science Exploration: Chemistry Connections. the original substance(s). In this experiment, acetic acid reacts with calcium carbonate to form carbon dioxide, • Additional information on food chemistry and calcium acetate, and water. The bubbles that form on the health can be found in the Applications of egg are the carbon dioxide and are a sign that a reaction Chemistry in Everyday Life section of CEF’s is taking place. Passport to Science Exploration: Chemistry Concepts in Action. FORMULAS & EQUATIONS Eggshells are made up of calcium carbonate. The chemical formula for calcium carbonate is HYPOTHESIS CaCO3. uPlacing eggs in vinegar will result in a Vinegar is a mixture made up of very dilute acetic acid. chemical reaction that dissolves the eggshell. Therefore, vinegar contains acetic acid and water. The chemical formula for acetic acid is CH3COOH or C2H4O2. The calcium carbonate in the eggshell and the acetic acid in vinegar interact setting off a chemical reaction. First, the Fun Fact acetic acid and calcium carbonate form carbonic acid, If an adult tooth is knocked out H2CO3, and calcium acetate, Ca(CH3COO)2. and the root is still attached, it is 2CH3COOH + CaCO3 g H2CO3 + Ca(CH3COO)2 recommended to place the tooth in milk, as it is high in calcium. Doing Next, the carbonic acid breaks down to form carbon dioxide and water. so may preserve the tooth long enough for a dentist to possibly H2CO3 g H2O + CO2 reattach it. Therefore, the overall reaction is ... 2CH3COOH (l) + CaCO3 (s) g H2O (l) + CO2 (g) + Ca(CH3COO)2 (s). You Be The Chemist® Activity Guide | page 80 LESSON 6: Rubber Eggs DIFFERENTIATION IN THE CLASSROOM LOWER GRADE LEVELS/BEGINNERS used as an indicator. Blue litmus paper turns red in the Use the experiment to discuss states of matter, physical and presence of an acid, and red litmus paper turns blue in the chemical properties, and physical and chemical changes. presence of a base. Have students describe the properties of the egg and the vinegar and discuss solids and liquids. Then, crack one egg Vinegar is a mixture of acetic acid in water. When you let or pour the vinegar into a glass to illustrate physical an egg soak in vinegar, the acetic acid will react with the changes. Following the experiment, discuss the chemical calcium carbonate in the eggshell (along with the fats and reaction, and ask students how they know a chemical proteins in the egg). As a result of this reaction, the change occurred. (Did they see a gas form in the vinegar? vinegar completely dissolves the shell, leaving behind the What was that gas?) soft and bouncy hard-boiled egg, covered only by a thin membrane. HIGHER GRADE LEVELS/ADVANCED STUDENTS DESCRIPTION Soak an egg in vinegar, which contains acetic acid, to initiate a chemical reaction that dissolves the eggshell. CONNECT TO THE YOU BE THE CHEMIST CHALLENGE OBJECTIVE This lesson demonstrates the properties of acids and the For additional background information, please results of a chemical reaction. Students observe as an review CEF’s Challenge study materials online at acid in vinegar dissolves an eggshell. http://www.chemed.org/ybtc/challenge/study.aspx. OBSERVATION & RESEARCH • Additional information on ions can be found in To describe certain chemical compounds, chemists use the Atomic Structure section of CEF’s Passport to the terms “acid” and “base.” You can determine whether Science Exploration: The Core of Chemistry. a solution is an acid or a base by determining the • Additional information on acids, bases, and concentration of hydrogen ions (H+). An ion is an atom indicators can be found in the Acids, Bases, and or molecule that has lost or gained one or more of its pH section of CEF’s Passport to Science outer electrons. Therefore, the total number of electrons Exploration: Chemistry Connections. is not equal to the total number of protons, so an ion will have either a negative or a positive electric charge. In general, a solution that contains a concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) greater than the concentration in pure water is called an acid. Common household acids include lemon juice, vinegar, soda pop, and orange juice. Likewise, a solution containing an excess of hydroxide ions (OH-) or an H+ concentration less than that of pure water is called a base. Common household bases include ammonia, baking soda, milk of magnesia, borax, and bleach. Solutions containing an H+ concentration equal to that of pure water are neutral. Scientists often need to know if a substance is an acid or base. To do so, they use indicators—substances that change color at different levels of acidity. Litmus paper is often You Be The Chemist® Activity Guide | page 81 LESSON 6: Rubber Eggs EXPERIMENTATION As the students perform the experiment, challenge them DATA COLLECTION to identify the independent, dependent, and controlled Have students record data in their science notebooks or on variables, as well as whether there is a control setup for the following activity sheet. What physical properties did the experiment. (Hint: If the level of acidity of the solution they observe at the beginning of the experiment? How did changes, will it have the same effect on the eggshell?) those physical properties change? You can use the table Review the information in the Scientific Inquiry section provided in the activity sheet (or a similar one of your on pages 14–16 to discuss variables. own) for students to record their data. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE 1. Pour one cup of vinegar into a container NOTES (cup or jar). 2. Place an egg in the container. Make sure the egg is completely submerged. 3. Allow the container to remain undisturbed for three to five days. If necessary, add more vinegar to keep the egg submerged.