Did you know that teeth and eggs have a lot in common? At least in this science experiment they do! Try this simple eggs and soda science experiment with your class while using principles from the scientific method. Topics such as oral health and scientific observations are wonderful additions to your existing class curriculum.
What you need:
- 1 can or bottle of cola
- empty glass
- 1 fresh egg
- spoon
- toothbrush
- toothpaste
Step 1: Preparation
Begin by pouring the cola into the empty glass until it is at least half full. Then, gently use the spoon to place the fresh egg into the cola, making sure it is covered completely.
Step 2: Observation
Set aside an hour to allow the eggs and cola to mix together well. As a class, check on the egg every 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, using the observation worksheet, students will document their predictions and observations accordingly.
Step 3: Verification
As soon as 1 hour has elapsed, it is time to remove the egg from the soda. Use the spoon to carefully remove the egg without cracking.
Ask the following guiding questions:
- What do you notice about the egg?
- Does the egg look different from when it was deposited into the cola?
- What do you think will happen if we use a toothbrush and toothpaste to brush the egg?
- Are there similarities between the egg and our teeth?
Step 4: Confirmation
To sum up the results of this experiment, we look at the similar reaction that the egg and our teeth have in response to cola (and other dark, staining beverages). The class will observe that the egg (like our teeth) becomes stained with cola and can be removed by the toothpaste.
Next Steps:
If you want to further test students’ hypotheses, leave the egg submerged in the soda for up to 24 hours. Results can be compared to the reaction of just 1 hour.
Happy Eggs-perimenting!
