The SP-EGG-TACULAR Inquiry Lab

Name Due Date: Thursday, April 1st 2021

Introduction: DID YOU KNOW? The largest egg on record weighed 2.589 kg (5 lb 11.36 oz) and
was laid by an ostrich (Struthio camelus) at a farm owned by Kerstin and Gunnar Sahlin (Sweden)
in Borlänge, Sweden, on 17 May 2008. Bird and reptile eggs are the world’s largest single cells
and can be used to study the activities of normal microscopic cells. They are especially useful
when investigating how cells maintain
that word your teachers keeps telling YOU to know…..homeostasis! In this inquiry lab, you will
name your egg and introduce him (or her) to different solutions. Then you will tell the story about
the adventures of your egg and what you think happened along your little egg’s journey!

This lab from start to finish is a SUMMATIVE LAB grade! So, let’s do our VERY best!

Problem: What will happen if an egg is placed in vinegar, then corn syrup, and then water?
Name your egg

Your Hypotheses: (Hypothesis is singular, hypotheses is plural)

Day One: If an egg is placed in vinegar, then

Day Two: If an egg is placed in corn syrup, then

Day Three: If an egg is placed in water, then

Materials: ALL MATERIALS will be provided by your teacher!

• 150 mL Corn syrup • Ruler
• Beakers • 150 mL Vinegar
• Egg • 150 mL Water (from the sink)
• Goggles • Paper
• Apron • Pencil
• String • Index cards
 • TBB (Triple Beam Balance) or digital scale • Graduated cylinder
• Plastic cups • Sharpie/pen

Procedures:
Day 1: Monday, March 29, 2021: YOU will work in Groups of TWO!
1. Decide immediately who will handle the liquids.
2. One group member should get ONE index card and enough aprons for
everyone in the group.
3. One group member should get a ruler, a piece of string and TBB or digital
scale for the group.
4. One group member should CAREFULLY get one egg for the group.
5. One group member should get one graduated cylinder, beaker and one cup
for the group.
6. After all materials are gathered, write the group members’ names and class
period on the blank side of the index card.
7. PLAN THIS FIRST as a group: On the lined side of the index card, create a
chart and jot down your starting/ending volume and starting/ending
circumference and starting/ending mass data in a chart for the 3 different
solutions.
8. Write your hypothesis for Day 1.
9. One person from the group should measure 150 mL of vinegar, using the
graduated cylinder. Pour it into the beaker for now.
10. Record your data.
11. Take the circumference of the egg using the string and ruler. BE CAREFUL
with the egg.
12. Record your data.
13. Using the TTB or digital scale (KEEP THIS DRY), record the beginning mass
for the egg.
14. Write the group name, egg name, date and period on the cup using masking
tape and a sharpie.
15. Gently place the egg into the clear plastic cup and pour the vinegar over it.
16. Place the group cup in the fume hood in the back of the classroom.
17. Clean your lab station (remember, we used eggs—Use the wipes provided to
you!)
18. Wash your hands using the back sink ONLY (soap and towels in the
dispenser).
Day 2:Tuesday, March 30, 2021
1. One group member needs to get string, ruler, paper towel, sharpie, beaker,
graduated cylinder and goggles for each member.
2. One group member needs to get goggles for everyone in the group.
3. One group member needs to get aprons for every member of the group.
4. One member needs to get the egg from the fume hood.
5. Everyone should make observations; record these observations on your index
card.
6. Make your hypothesis for the 2nd day procedures with corn syrup.
7. CAREFULLY remove the egg from the plastic cup with vinegar and place it on a
paper towel (located on your tables or on the round table).
8. Observe the remaining amount of vinegar left in the cup. Pour it into a
graduated cylinder to measure the volume.
9. In the data table, record the amount of vinegar left after soaking the
egg….from day one.
10. Pour the remaining vinegar in the cup down the drain while running the water.
Rinse the cup in the back sink. Dry it out using the paper towels above the sink.
Discard trash properly.
11. Record additional observations.
12. Using the string and ruler, take the circumference of the egg.
13. Record data.
14. Using the paper towel, place the egg on the TBB or digital scale and measure the
mass. Record in your chart.
15. Using a beaker, measure out 150 mL of light corn syrup and pour over the egg in
your clean cup.
16. Label your cup with group names and period (if needed after rinsing).
17. Put the egg and syrup in the fume hood.
18. Put all clean materials away. If it got dirty, clean it up!
19. Clean your table using the wipes provided.
20.Wash your hands in the back sink only!
Day 3: Wednesday, March 31, 2021:
1. One group member from each group get goggles for everyone in the group. Also
get a spoon.
2. One group member get aprons for everyone in the group.
3. One group member will get the egg from the fume hood and place it in the
middle of your table.
4. Touch the egg, make observations and record. Do not bounce it or throw it.
5. Record your hypothesis for today’s procedures-the egg in water.
6. Raise hands to ask the teacher what to do next. Watch demonstration for #8.
7. Get a beaker, graduated cylinder, string, ruler, paper towel.
8. Pour very carefully the corn syrup into the beaker. It will come out fast at
first and then slowly. When the flow stops, let the egg roll into your hand and
allow it to continue to drip over the beaker. You will then put the egg on the
paper towel. Scoop out the rest of the syrup with the spoon into the beaker so
that you have accurate measurements.
9. Record the ending volume.
10. Using the string, measure the circumference. Throw the string away.
11. Place the egg on a paper towel and measure it on the TBB or digital scale.
Record.
12. Wash your hands.
13. Throw away the cup.
14. Get a new cup and write your name on it using tape and sharpie.
15. Measure out 150mL of water from the sink into your graduated cylinder.
16. Pour the water into your cup.
17. Place the egg in the cup VERY gently!
18. Pour the syrup into the trash can and wash the syrup out of the beaker with
warm soapy water. Be careful. It’s slippery! Return the clean, dry beaker to
the front of the room on the table.
19. Place the egg and the index card in the fume hood.
20.Clean your area using the wipes provided.

Day 4: Thursday, April 1, 2021:

 1. Have one group member get your goggles for each member.
2. Have one member get aprons for everyone.
3. One member get egg.
4. Make and record observations.
5. Raise hand to ask teacher what to do next. (The egg is VERY delicate and will
fall apart if you are not VERY careful!)
6. Get graduated cylinder, string, ruler, TBB or digital scale and beaker.
7. Pour the water into the graduated cylinder.
8. Record the data.
9. Carefully place the egg on the paper towel
10. Wrap the string around the egg to find the circumference.
11. Record the data.
12. Place the egg on the TBB and record measurement.
13. Gently put the egg back into the cup and leave it on your table. Don’t touch it at
this point.
14. Clean your area!
15. Work with your group on getting all the data for your charts and graphs.
Discuss your observations as well. One group member you trust will need to
keep up with the index card. You may take pictures of it.

Results/Observations/Analysis:
 Egg Data: DEMO DATA for CLASS
Starting Ending Starting Ending Starting Ending
Volume Volume Circumference Circumference Mass Mass
(mL) (mL)
Vinegar 100 mL 91 mL 15 cm 16 cm Grams Grams

Corn 100 mL 113mL 16 cm 13.0cm Grams Grams

Syrup
Water 100mL 51.0mL 13.0cm 18.3cm Grams Grams

Complete this table in FULL! (Use your notecard information!) YOUR

ACTUAL DATA: Don’t forget the UNITS!
Starting Ending Starting Ending Starting Ending
Volume Volume Circumference Circumference Mass Mass
(mL) (mL)
Vinegar

Corn
Syrup
Water

Example Below! (You will use Word to plug in your data for your ONE chart!)
 Egg Data

Volume in mL 150
Starting Volume (mL)
100 Ending Volume (mL)
50
0
Vinegar Karo Syrup Water
Solutions

Remember these are examples only! You must include MASS as well!

Analysis:

This is where you put all of your observations, and talk about POSSIBLE vocabulary terms,
etc. This should be at least one paragraph, a minimum of ten sentences!

**Think about the example shared in class to help you with your analysis. What EXACTLY did
you do on Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, etc. Be VERY specific! EXAMPLE for DAY 1 only that you
can NOT copy: I placed the egg was placed in vinegar and the shell dissolved. Observations
showed that a white, powdery substance left traces on my hand after touching the egg. The
egg’s outer covering appeared thinner and softer. The yolk could be seen through the thin shell.
Further data shows that particles from the vinegar were allowed to pass through the cell
membrane. The starting circumference of the egg was 15 cm before placing it in vinegar. After
24 hours of being exposed to the vinegar, the egg’s circumference rose to 16 cm. Additionally,
the starting volume of the vinegar was 100 mL. The ending volume was 91 mL. This shows that
some of the vinegar was absorbed by the egg. This shows that vinegar is a hypotonic solution.

Conclusion:
A paragraph (three sentences) explaining whether your hypothesis was correct or not. For
example: “My hypothesis was incorrect. I stated that I thought the egg would explode in the
water; however, my observations show that the egg got larger, but did not explode. And then go
on to explain what the final outcome was.

What are you being graded on? (Each category is worth 25 points!)
Requirement Points Available Points Earned Comments from Teacher
Data Table 25

Graph 25

Analysis 25

Conclusion 25