How many eggs did you end up using?
I used around 125 to 150 eggs! I have never bought so many eggs in my life. For weeks, I had egg splatter on my clothes and shoes. Some of my experiments went on for so long they would get smelly, but don’t worry, the projects in the crate are much less messy!
How did you come up with the eggsperiments in the crate?
For this crate, I started by researching common egg-based activities. Then, I looked for ways to put a science spin on them. Dyeing eggs is something a lot of people do during Easter, so I thought it would be fun to put a new twist on the tradition by adding chemistry. After researching and trying dozens of other activities, I landed on the second project which is based on a classic experiment – the naked egg. I also came up with three other egg-inspired DIYs that all involve a variety of scientific concepts.
How did you test out your eggciting concepts?
Prototyping is an exciting part of every crate process. We often try numerous materials and processes before we find the ones that work. During all the eggsperiments, my lab book was filled with observations and notes, just like a real scientist!
Traditionally, for the naked egg experiment, vinegar is used to strip the shell and expose the membrane inside. I wanted to amplify and speed up the chemical reaction, so I tried using citric acid instead of vinegar. I had to conduct over thirty experiments to find the right ratio of acid to water that would successfully de-shell the egg and leave behind a bouncy membrane similar to a hardboiled egg. Once I started to get my intended outcome, I had to drop the naked eggs to see if they would bounce. On my first try, I held the egg a bit too high, and it exploded on impact. I ended up with a gooey mess.
My favorite project in the crate is the fizzy colored eggs. It combines art and science in a fun and exciting way. Adding citric acid after the panting process yielded really unique results. I’m always surprised by how beautiful and different each egg turns out!
Above all, what was the most uneggspected outcome of this project?
I still enjoy eggs.
