• Question: Why does an egg go rubbery why you put it in vinegar for a long time. Will it ever go back hard?

    Asked by MissG to Anna, Hayley, Iain, Rebecca on 24 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Rebecca Jones

      Rebecca Jones answered on 24 Jun 2015:

      This happens for 2 reasons:

      1. The shell dissolves – the egg shell is mostly made up of calcium carbonate and vinegar is a weak acid. When they meet the react together and produce carbon dioxide, which explains the little bubbles you see when you first put the egg in.

      2. The egg white turns rubbery – the egg white is made of a protein called albumin which becomes denatured (or deactivated) by the acid in the vinegar, leaving a rubbery texture.

      The change is permanent so the egg won’t be able to become hard again.

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