Lab: Observing density with an Egg

GRADE SCHOOL LAB
OBSERVING DENSITY
WITH AN EGG

INTRODUCTION:

In this lab, you will observe the change in density of water when salt is added. Density is simply how much (mass) of something there is in how big (volume). Wood floats in water because it is less dense than the water. A rock sinks in water because it is more dense than the water.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Glass ³/₄ full of water
A raw egg
3 tablespoons table salt
Spoon

PROCEDURE:

Fill a glass ³/₄ full of water.

Gently place the raw egg into the water. What do you observe?

Now remove the egg and add the three tablespoons of salt to the water. Stir gently with the spoon until the salt dissolves.

Again, carefully place the raw egg into the now salt water. What do you observe? Is the egg now floating? If it still sinks, just add a little more salt until it floats.

RESULTS:

The egg sinks to the bottom in the plain water, but floats in the salt water.

The density of the raw egg is just slightly more than water, so it sinks. When you dissolve salt in the water, you change the density. Because salt water is slightly more dense than the egg, the egg will float.

Back to Grade School Table of Contents
Back to Lab Dad's Laboratory