The Floating Egg

Can you make an egg float? Put your egg to the test with this fun experiment that explores how different liquids affect whether an egg sinks or swims!

Ingredients

  • 5 raw eggs

  • 5 clear glasses or containers

  • Tap water

  • Table salt

  • Granulated sugar

  • Liquid dish soap

  • Light corn syrup

  • Cooking oil

Directions

Arrange five clear glasses on a flat surface. Prepare each glass with the following mixtures:

  • Glass 1: 1 cup of plain tap water

  • Glass 2: 1 cup of water mixed with 4 tablespoons of salt

  • Glass 3: 1 cup of water mixed with 4 tablespoons of sugar

  • Glass 4: 1 cup of water mixed with 1 tablespoon of dish soap

  • Glass 5: 1 cup of cooking oil

Stir the salt and sugar mixtures until dissolved.

Before adding the eggs, make a prediction! Which liquids will make an egg float?

Carefully lower one raw egg into each glass.

Observe whether each egg floats, sinks, or stays suspended in the liquid.

Compare your results. Did any of the liquids surprise you?

The Science Behind It

It's all about density! An egg sinks when it's denser than the liquid surrounding it and floats when the liquid is denser than the egg.

Adding salt or sugar increases the density of water, which can help an egg float. Cooking oil is typically less dense than a fresh egg, so the egg will usually sink. A small amount of dish soap may change the water's properties, but it generally won't increase its density enough to make a fresh egg float.


Egg-periments, RecipesGuest UserBraswell Family Farmsegg