What happens to a raw egg if placed in vinegar?

When you place a raw egg in vinegar, a fascinating chemical reaction takes place:

What happens:

* Calcium carbonate dissolves: The vinegar (acetic acid) reacts with the calcium carbonate in the egg's shell. This reaction creates carbon dioxide gas, which you'll see bubbling up around the egg.

* Shell weakens: The calcium carbonate is what gives the egg shell its strength. As it dissolves, the shell becomes thinner and more fragile.

* Egg membrane is exposed: Eventually, the shell will completely dissolve, leaving behind only the thin, rubbery membrane that surrounds the egg.

* Egg expands: As the vinegar solution seeps into the egg through the weakened shell, the egg will expand in size. This is due to the osmosis process, where water moves from the higher concentration (vinegar) to the lower concentration (inside the egg).

The result:

After a few days, you'll be left with a bouncy, rubbery egg. It's no longer a hard-shelled egg, but the membrane acts as a protective layer around the yolk and white.

Important notes:

* Safety: The process can take a few days, so be patient. Always supervise children during this experiment.

* Variations: You can try different concentrations of vinegar or leave the egg in vinegar for different lengths of time to see how it affects the outcome.

* Not edible: The egg is not edible after this experiment, as the vinegar has altered its internal composition.

This experiment is a great way to learn about chemical reactions, the properties of materials, and the process of osmosis.