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This activity is kinda like magic.
I mean, we all think eggs have hard shells, right?
Well, what if I told you I could turn a hard-shelled egg into a rubbery egg?
Do you think I can do it?
You bet I can!
Check out our Rainbow Rubber Eggs!
This makes a great science activity any time of the year.
But the rainbow theme would make it pair nicely with the St. Patrick’s Day holiday.
And because it involves eggs you could definitely use this one for some Easter science as well.
Note: Find more awesome science activities on my Science Activities for Kids page!
This video will take you through the whole process of making rainbow rubber eggs, and you’ll have a chance to see just how rubbery they were!
Want to make your own rainbow rubber eggs?
You’ll need to gather the following materials:
- 6 raw eggs
- 6 glasses
- Vinegar (you will need a lot!)
- Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple liquid watercolors or food dyes
Add a few drops of liquid watercolor or food dye to each glass. Then gently place one egg in each glass, taking care not to crack or break them. Add enough vinegar to cover the egg.
Let your eggs sit in the vinegar for 5 to 7 days.
After 5 to 7 days, remove the eggs from the glasses.
Enjoy the beautiful colors!
Check out how rubbery they have become!
We were able to literally bounce our eggs on the tray.
We were also able to stick a toothpick into our eggs and pop them. After popping them, my kids picked up the shell and played with it like a popped balloon.
One of our eggs squirted like a fountain when we stuck a toothpick in it.
These rainbow rubber eggs were like no egg we had ever seen before!
The science behind the activity
Vinegar contains a chemical substance called acetic acid. Egg shells are primarily made of calcium carbonate.
When calcium carbonate comes into contact with acetic acid, a chemical reaction occurs that leaves behind calcium and carbon dioxide. Indeed, if you look closely you will notice small bubbles of gas on and around the eggs.
After several days, the egg shell will have complete dissolved, leaving behind only the thin membrane.
More science activities for kids
More science resources from Gift of Curiosity:
- Dancing raisins
- DIY glitter bouncy balls
- Candy experiments
- Jumping colors science activity
- Make your own glycerin soap
- Make your own telescope
- Magic inflating balloons
This is a great project for kids.
I’ve used this lesson before.
It’s great!