Acetic Acid. Calcium Carbonate. Membranes. And how to turn your egg into a toy.
1-Minute NomNom
Eggs have a shell that is made of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) crystals. The eggshell
1) is porous (see the 1-Minute NomNom “Get fresh“)
2) has membranes that can contract upon cooling to create an important air bubble (see the 1-Minute NomNom “Eggs-tra ap-peeling“)
3) allows unhatched eggs to breathe (because of the air bubble) (see the 1-Minute NomNom “Chicks love Air Supply“.
To see how amazing these egg membranes are, take a look at this video below! The eggshell has been dissolved with acetic acid (vinegar), leaving us with a “membranes-only” egg that we can use as a toy! Talk about eggs-tra bouncy!
Second Helpings
Watch how strong the membranes are in this second video below where we see how “stretchy” they are despite being so “thin”!
https://youtu.be/3Iv9eLO0scA?t=2m16s
Feed Me!
What else do we use acetic acid (vinegar) for? Share your tips and tricks in the comments below!
Like this? Play with me and like me to discover more. All you need is a minute a day to explore the world’s marvels through the phenomenon of food!
