I was doing an egg experiment that I found on line where you put an egg in white vinegar and the shell softens. It said to leave the egg for seven days. At the end of the fourth day the white of the egg which had already softened fell totally off the egg. Now my experiment for class is a flop. Why and what should I have done differently.
Since this is not my area of expertise, I searched Google under the key words "egg vinegar" to get these possible sources:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/eggs/activity-naked.html
http://www.kidzone.ws/science/egg.htm
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Naked-Egg
http://homepage.eircom.net/~kogrange/4th_ys_vinegar.html
http://www.iit.edu/~smile/bi9524.html
In the future, you can find the information you desire more quickly, if you use appropriate key words to do your own search.
I hope this helps. Thanks for asking.
It sounds like you encountered an unexpected result in your egg experiment. When you place an egg in white vinegar, a chemical reaction occurs between the vinegar (which is an acid) and the calcium carbonate in the eggshell. This reaction causes the shell to dissolve, leaving behind the thin membrane that lies directly beneath it. However, leaving the egg in vinegar for seven days can sometimes lead to over-dissolution, which seems to have happened in your case.
To improve your experiment, here are a few modifications you can try:
1. Reduce the soaking time: Instead of leaving the egg in vinegar for seven days, you can try a shorter duration such as two to four days. This will allow the shell to soften without completely dissolving.
2. Monitor the egg daily: Check the egg periodically, around every 12-24 hours. By observing the changes daily, you can remove the egg from the vinegar as soon as the desired level of shell softening is achieved. Don't forget to handle the egg carefully as the shell will be fragile.
3. Control the experiment conditions: Ensure that the egg is fully submerged in vinegar throughout the experiment. You may also want to cover the container to prevent evaporation and maintain a stable environment.
Remember, experiments don't always go as planned, and unexpected outcomes can provide valuable learning opportunities. Analyzing and understanding the reasons behind unexpected results is an essential part of the scientific process.