Why are eggs soaked in vinegar white?
Recently, the experiment of soaking eggs in vinegar has caused a heated discussion on social media. Many people were surprised to find that eggs soaked in vinegar will turn white. This phenomenon is not only interesting, but also involves the principles of chemical reactions. This article will analyze in detail the reasons why eggs soaked in vinegar turn white, along with relevant experimental data and hot topic analysis.
1. The scientific principle of whitening eggs soaked in vinegar

The main reason why eggs soaked in vinegar turn white is the chemical reaction between the acetic acid in the vinegar and the calcium carbonate in the egg shell. The main component of egg shells is calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), while the main component of vinegar is acetic acid (CH₃COOH). The two react to produce calcium acetate, water and carbon dioxide, causing the eggshell to dissolve, eventually revealing the inner white film.
The chemical reaction equation is as follows:
| Reactants | product |
|---|---|
| CaCO₃ (calcium carbonate) + 2CH₃COOH (acetic acid) | Ca(CH₃COO)₂ (calcium acetate) + H₂O (water) + CO₂↑ (carbon dioxide) |
2. Experimental procedures and phenomenon observation
The following are the experimental steps and phenomenon records of vinegar-soaked eggs:
| steps | phenomenon |
|---|---|
| 1. Place raw eggs in a transparent container | The egg sinks to the bottom and the eggshell is light brown. |
| 2. Pour in white vinegar and cover the eggs completely | Bubbles immediately appear on the surface of the eggshell |
| 3. Let it sit for 12 hours | The eggshell partially dissolves and the liquid becomes turbid. |
| 4. Let it sit for 24-48 hours | The eggshell completely dissolves and the egg turns white |
3. Analysis of hot topics on the entire network
In the past 10 days, the vinegar-soaked eggs experiment has soared in popularity on platforms such as Douyin, Weibo and Xiaohongshu. The following are statistics on related topics:
| Platform | Hashtag | Number of discussions (10,000) |
|---|---|---|
| Douyin | #vinegarsoakedeggsexperiment | 12.5 |
| #The reason why eggs turn white | 8.3 | |
| little red book | #kitchenscienceexperiments | 5.7 |
4. Frequently Asked Questions
1.Why do eggs become soft?
When the shell dissolves, the egg is supported only by the inner membrane, making it soft and elastic.
2.Can other acidic liquids be used instead of vinegar?
Yes, acidic liquids such as lemon juice or cola can have a similar effect, but the reaction rate may be different.
3.Are eggs soaked in vinegar edible?
It is not recommended for consumption because the eggs may be contaminated by bacteria after the shells dissolve.
5. Summary
The whitening of eggs soaked in vinegar is a typical acid-base reaction experiment, which vividly demonstrates the application of chemistry in daily life. Through this experiment, we can more intuitively understand the reaction principle of calcium carbonate and acetic acid. If you are interested in scientific experiments, give it a try, but remember to be safe!
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