Egg in a Bottle

Alternate titles:

Balloon in a Bottle

Purpose:

To demonstrate atmospheric pressure and the effect of heat on a gas.

Materials:

• Cotton balls
• Lighter/matches
• Glass bottle
• Peeled, hard-boiled egg/Water balloon

Hazards and PPE:

• Ethanol is flammable and should be handled with care. Be sure to move the ethanol bottle and any excess ethanol a safe distance away from the bottle.
• Wear approved safety goggles and gloves.

Protocol:

Demonstration

1. Soak the cotton ball in alcohol, ignite it, and drop into the bottle.
2. Place the balloon/egg in/on the top of the bottle.
3. Notice the balloon or egg bounce on top of the bottle and then be pushed into the bottle.

Additional Notes:

• Use a bottle with a large enough mouth to just cradle an egg.
• A water balloon has some advantages over the egg. You can make it any size you’d like, and therefore fit it into an available bottle.
• With either the egg or the balloon you can tip the bottle upside down and blow into the bottle to remove the object.

Disposal:

• Egg or balloon and cotton ball can be thrown away.
• Bottle can be rinsed and reused.

Citations:

1. ICE Demonstration Workshop, University of Arizona, 1986.
2. Summerlin, L.R, Borgford, C.L., & Ealy, J.B. Chemical Demonstrations, Volume II, Second Edition, ACS, 1988.

Videos:

• Air Pressure_The Egg and Bottle

  George Mehler