Hooked on Science: Egg geodes

Geodes can be kind of ugly on the outside, but when cracked open, you can find something beautiful. Here's how to make your own.

Materials

• 12 eggs
• Water
• Borax
• Food coloring

Instructions

STEP 1: Crack each egg near the narrow end. Remove the shell near the top of each egg and then pour the contents into the trash.

STEP 2: Add two cups of water into a saucepan, add food coloring and then mix.

STEP 3: Add borax to the saucepan until the water is super saturated with borax.

STEP 4: Once the water starts boiling, pour the contents from the saucepan into each egg, allow the water to evaporate and observe.

Explanation

As the water evaporates from the eggs, borax crystals deposit on the inside of the egg shells, creating an egg geode.

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