Glowing Bouncy Egg | A Fun Egg in Vinegar Experiment for Kids

A Spooky Science Surprise: Can You Make an Egg Glow and Bounce?

What if you could make an egg bounce—without cracking? Even better, what if you could make it glow in the dark? With this egg in vinegar experiment, kids can watch an ordinary egg transform into a squishy, bouncy, and even glowing wonder! It’s the perfect mix of chemistry, hands-on fun, and a little Halloween magic.

This experiment is easy to set up with just a few household ingredients. By soaking the egg in vinegar, the shell dissolves, leaving behind a rubbery, see-through membrane. Add in a little glow-in-the-dark effect, and you’ve got a spooky science trick that’s sure to amaze!

Whether you’re looking for a fun Halloween-themed experiment or a creative way to explore chemistry, this egg in vinegar experiment is a glowing success!

What You’ll Learn in This Egg Science Experiment

With this glowing bouncy egg activity, kids will discover:

• How acids break down calcium carbonate in an eggshell
• The chemical reaction that produces bubbles and dissolves the shell
• How osmosis changes the egg’s size and texture
• How phosphorescence works to create a glow-in-the-dark effect

This experiment is a fantastic way to combine STEM learning with sensory play, making it perfect for curious young scientists!

Why This Experiment Matters

This egg in vinegar experiment isn’t just a cool trick—it’s a hands-on way to explore chemistry and light science. Watching the egg’s transformation helps kids understand how chemical reactions work in everyday life. Plus, the glow-in-the-dark effect adds an exciting twist, introducing kids to phosphorescence, a concept used in glow sticks, jellyfish, and even some minerals!

Best of all, this glowing bouncy egg experiment is a great sensory science activity, engaging kids with texture, sight, and touch while they observe and play. It’s especially fun for Halloween or any time kids want to mix a little science with a little spooky fun!

Quick Facts

• Time Needed: 24–48 hours
• Difficulty Level: Easy
• Best For: Ages 5–11 (elementary school kids)
• Science Type: Chemistry
• Mess Level: Low
• Materials Needed:
  • White vinegar
  • Clear jar or cup
  • Glow-in-the-dark highlighter ink or tonic water
  • Blacklight

Tip: Using tonic water adds a natural glow due to the quinine inside, while highlighter ink creates a more intense glow. Either way, the blacklight is key to making your egg shine!

What’s the Science?

When an egg soaks in vinegar, a chemical reaction occurs between the acidic vinegar and the calcium carbonate in the eggshell. This reaction releases carbon dioxide bubbles and slowly dissolves the shell, leaving behind a soft, bouncy egg held together by its membrane.

But what about the glowing effect? That’s where phosphorescence comes in! Highlighter ink contains special compounds that absorb ultraviolet (UV) light and then emit it back, creating a glow-in-the-dark appearance. Tonic water glows naturally under a blacklight because of quinine, a chemical that fluoresces under UV light.

By soaking the egg in these glowing liquids, the membrane absorbs the phosphorescent molecules, creating an egg that glows under blacklight. It’s like a spooky, squishy science experiment you can hold!

Fun Fact Corner

Ready to Launch?

Grab your popsicle sticks and start building! This simple catapult is more than just a fun activity—it’s an exciting way to sneak science into playtime.

Try This Spooky Science Experiment Today!

Gather your materials, grab a blacklight, and get ready to make a glowing bouncy egg! This egg in vinegar experiment is a fun way to explore chemistry, light science, and sensory play—all in one.

Share your results with us on social media @arecipeforscience

Looking for more fun science activities? Check out our Make a Geode Experiment or explore our full collection of hands-on experiments at A Recipe for Science!

What’s the Science Behind the Science?

This fun experiment falls under Physics, specifically Mechanics.  Let’s find out a little more about both. 

Chemistry: Exploring the World of Reactions

Chemistry is the science of matter—what it’s made of, how it changes, and why those changes happen. It’s like a giant recipe book for the universe, where elements and compounds mix to create everything from bubbling volcanoes to the air we breathe. Whether it’s cooking, cleaning, or even breathing, chemistry is all around us, shaping the world in ways we often don’t see.

Check out more Chemistry experiments.

Why Chemistry Matters in Everyday Life

From baking bread to brushing your teeth, chemistry plays a role in nearly everything you do. The fizz in soda, the way soap removes grease, and even the way leaves change color in the fall—all of these are chemical reactions at work. By understanding chemistry, we can explain everyday mysteries and even create new materials that improve our lives.

Major Branches of Chemistry

Chemistry is divided into several key areas, each focusing on different types of matter and reactions:

• Organic Chemistry – The study of carbon-based compounds, including the chemistry of life.
• Inorganic Chemistry – Examines non-carbon substances, like metals and minerals.
• Physical Chemistry – Explores how chemical reactions occur at a molecular level.
• Biochemistry – Studies the chemistry of living organisms.
• Analytical Chemistry – Focuses on identifying substances and measuring their properties.

The Science of Acid-Base Reactions

One essential part of chemistry is acid-base reactions, which happen when an acid (like vinegar) meets a base (like baking soda or an eggshell’s calcium carbonate). These reactions can create fizzing bubbles, dissolve substances, or change colors—making them a fascinating area of chemistry to explore.

Acid-base reactions are important in many real-world applications. They help our stomachs digest food, make batteries work, and even allow plants to absorb nutrients from the soil.

Why Acid-Base Reactions Matter

Beyond fun experiments like the egg in vinegar experiment, acid-base reactions are responsible for many natural and industrial processes. They help maintain pH levels in our bodies, contribute to environmental changes like acid rain, and are key in creating everyday products like soap, medicine, and cleaning supplies. Understanding how acids and bases interact helps us better grasp the chemical reactions shaping our world.

Check out more Chemistry experiments.