Hooked on Science: Chemical reaction eggs

With a few materials around the house, you can add a little science to dying Easter eggs.

Materials

* Vinegar

* Baking soda

* Food coloring

* Eye dropper

* Paint brush

* Hard-boiled eggs

Instructions

STEP 1: Add food coloring and water to the baking soda to create a paste.

STEP 2: Using the paint brush, paint the hard boiled eggs with the food coloring, water and baking soda mixture.

STEP 3: Using the eye dropper, squeeze the vinegar over the hard-boiled eggs and observe.

Explanation

When you squeezed the vinegar over the hard-boiled eggs, which were painted with a mixture that included baking soda, you caused a chemical reaction that created carbon dioxide gas. The vinegar helps the food coloring bind to the shell of the egg creating a unique and colorful design.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website www.hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments.