How to Make a Solution That Would Float an Egg

One can float easily on the dense waters of the Dead Sea.

An uncooked egg sinks in a jug of tap water because eggs are denser than water. However, the same egg will float in a jug containing salt solution. This happens because the addition of salt to water increases its density, making it heavier than the raw egg. The lighter object, in this case an egg, will float on top of the denser salt solution. Dissolving sugar instead of salt also works in the same manner. Below are recipes to make salt and sugar solutions in which raw eggs will float.

Things You'll Need

• Clear jug
• Tap water
• Salt
• Spoon
• Raw eggs
• Sugar

Instructions

Salt Solution

1. Fill two jugs with one-half pint of water each. Label one jug as "W" and the other as "S."

2. Add one-half cup of salt to the jug of water labeled "S." Stir the contents to dissolve the salt until the solution is clear.

3. Place a raw egg in the jug labeled "W" that contains plain tap water. The egg will sink to the bottom. Take another egg and place it in the jug labeled "S" with the salt solution. The egg in the salt solution will float.

Sugar Solution

1. Fill two jugs with one-half pint of water each. Label one jug as "W" and the other as "S."

2. Add one-half cup of sugar to the jug of water labeled "S." Stir the contents to dissolve the sugar until the solution is clear.

3. Place a raw egg in the jug labeled "W" that contains plain tap water. The egg will sink to the bottom. Take another egg and place it in the jug labeled "S" with the sugar solution. The egg in the sugar solution will float.

Tips & Warnings

• If the egg does not float in the salt or sugar solution, add some more salt or sugar to the solution to increase its density.

References

• Yale University: Physics Unit: The Floating Egg
• University of California: Make Water Denser
• Elmhurst College: The Magical Floating Egg

Resources

• Teachers' Domain: Density and Buoyancy: Making Eggs Float