4
$\begingroup$

Boiling eggs in salty water rather than regular water makes the salt react with egg shells making them more fragile. My guess is that it's either sodium or chloride reacting with the calcium in eggs. Can someone please explain what is going on in there, and why the reaction makes the egg shell more fragile?

Here's an example YouTube video this effect is mentioned.

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
0

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
4
$\begingroup$

The eggshell is made of calcium carbonate mostly, but the crystal structure is held together by matrix proteins (more references in Wikipedia). Salt creates ionic interactions with the protein molecules, breaking protein-protein interactions, and in this case, probably protein-mineral interactions as well, debilitating the eggshell structure.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks! Would you be kind enough to elaborate why salt does that? $\endgroup$
    – cheater
    Commented Mar 25, 2018 at 19:05
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Proteins can interact with proteins or other molecules via ionic bonds between the protein (which has some charged - ionic - atoms), and calcium carbonate, which is made up of charged entities (it is an ionic compound). If there is enough salt, then salt - which is also ionic, will displace the calcium carbonate from the protein, debilitating the interaction. $\endgroup$
    – ralk912
    Commented Mar 25, 2018 at 19:13
  • $\begingroup$ That fully explained the process to me. Thank you. $\endgroup$
    – cheater
    Commented Mar 27, 2018 at 10:54

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.