Almira Akinpelu

Research Methods
Dissolving an Eggshell Experiment

Introduction

The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a substance is and tells if when something is put in a substance, it will
dissolve. Acids closer to a pH of 0 and bases closer to a pH of 14 are very dangerous because they move further away
from the neutrality of pH 7. This experiment tested substances of different pHs to see which one dissolved the egg shell
the most. The hypothesis was if an egg is put in substances of different pHs, then the more acidic liquids like vinegar
should dissolve the eggshell completely.

Materials

 2 -4 clear cups (one must be for water, another  White vinegar

for the vinegar)  Coke
 4 same sized eggs  Orange juice
 Water  Paper towel

Methods

 Place eggs in cups and cover each with the different liquids
 Check on them at 6 hours, 24 hours and 36 hours

Data and Results

Image 2: Eggs 6 hours after starting experiment

From left to right water, vinegar, coke, orange juice

Image 1: Egg reacting immediately when placed in

vinegar

Image 3: Eggs 24 hours after starting experiment

 Almira Akinpelu
Research Methods

Image 4: Eggs 36 hours after starting experiment

Graph 1

Liquids Dissolving Eggshell

4

0
Water Vinegar Coke Orange Juice

6 Hours 24 Hours 36 Hours

Graph 1 shows how much each liquid dissolved the eggshell on a scale of 0-4. 0, no change; 1, an external change like
texture and color; 2, internal change like softness; 3, shell is almost completely gone; 4, shell is completely gone.

Discussion and Conclusion

Before conducting the experiment the pH of each liquid was found and used as a prediction for which one
should dissolve the eggshell the most. Vinegar has a pH of 2.4, orange juice has pH between 3.3-4.2, coke has a pH of
2.37, and water has a pH of 7. Water was used as a control substance because of its neutral pH. Although coke had the
lowest pH making it the most acidic, the hypothesis was that vinegar would dissolve the shell the most, which was
proven true because it ended up being soft and squishy. The egg shell is made of calcium carbonate and once exposed to
acetic acid like in the vinegar, a chemical reaction took place which dissolved the shell. It was also bigger than it started
due to osmosis allowing the vinegar to move through the semi-permeable egg membrane. The coke only darkened the
shell and the orange juice changed the shell to a rough texture but no penetration and break down.

For future experiments of this type, it would be better to use brown eggs so it could be easier to see the
progression of each liquid’s effect on the shell. Also, it would prevent the shell from being discolored by the coke.
 Almira Akinpelu
Research Methods
Bibliography

How to make a Naked Egg [Internet]. [cited 2019 Aug 31]. Available from:
https://www.imaginationstationtoledo.org/educator/activities/how-to-make-a-naked-egg

pH ( Read ) | Chemistry | CK-12 Foundation [Internet]. [cited 2019 Aug 30]. Available from:
https://www.ck12.org/c/physical-science/ph/lesson/pH-Concept-MS-PS/

Testing the Acidity of Vinegar [Internet]. [cited 2019 Aug 30]. Available from:
https://www.culturesforhealth.com/learn/kombucha/testing-acidity-strength-vinegar/