Hooked on Science: Geode Easter egg

Geodes are not so pretty on the outside, but when cracked, they are beautiful on the inside. With a few materials from around the house, you can turn an ordinary egg into a geode.

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 pour the contents into the trash.

STEP 2: Using warm water, clean the inside of each egg.

STEP 3: Place the eggs into the egg carton and let dry.

STEP 4: Add two cups of water into a saucepan, set to boil, add food coloring and mix.

STEP 5: Continue to add borax to the saucepan until the water is saturated.

STEP 6: Once the water starts boiling, pour the solution into each egg and allow the water to evaporate.

Explanation

As the water evaporates from the eggs, borax crystals deposit on the sides of the egg creating a geode egg.

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