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Egg Decomposition Rates

How do surroundings effect the decomposition of an egg shell?
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Kayla Charbonneau
on 9 January 2015
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Transcript of Egg Decomposition Rates

How do surroundings affect the decomposition of an egg shell?
In compost
In Garbage
In Vinegar
In Soil
In Ice
Egg Decomposition Rates
It is hypothesized that the moisture level will affect the rate of decomposition
greatly. It is likely that the more moisture in the soil, the faster it decomposes. It is
also possible the shell will not decompose well while covered in anything not
environmentally friendly, such as common waste. It could also be that the egg shell
will be faster to decompose in more sunlight and warmer temperatures.
Hypothesis
Introduction
Decomposition is a general term used to describe the interrelated processes by
which organic matter is broken down to CO2 and humus with a simultaneous

release of nutrients. A typical egg shell takes 2-4 weeks to decompose.

Variables
Independent Variables
Soil Composition
Water
Forest Dirt
Vinegar
Compost
Ice
Dependent Variables
Controlled
Egg shells
Rate of Decomposition
The egg shell in the compost decomposed quickly. The surrounding fruits and
vegetables were already in the process of biodegrading.
The egg shell took much longer to decompose in the garbage than in the compose.
There was a lot of plastic, which can take hundreds of years to decompose.
There was a rapid decomposition rate when the acid from the vinegar came in
contact with the egg shell. It started to bubble around the edges and dissolve into
the liquid around it.
It was very surprising to see that the egg shell in the soil did not decompose. The
egg shell remained as it was for the full four weeks with no progress what so ever.
The ice froze around the egg shell and paralyzed it from any change. The egg shell
did not decompose at all after four weeks.
Procedure
1) With one of the buckets, take the pure earth and fill the bucket. Make a small
hole and put an egg shell inside. Cover the egg shell in earth and put the bucket in
a room temperature area.
3) Using another bucket, fill it with common waste and bury an egg shell. Put the
bucket in a room temperature room.
4) Take another bucket and fill it with vinegar. Put the egg shell in it. Place the
bucket in a normal room temperature.
5) With the fourth bucket, fill it with compost. Put the egg shell in and set in a room
temperature area.
6) Next, fill a bucket with water and put the egg shell in. Put the bucket in a freezer

and allow the water to freeze around the shell completely.

8) Once a week, check the egg shell and copy sown its progress in decomposition.
9) After 4 weeks, the experiment should be finished. Compare the final products of
the egg shells and copy all data on a table, including the rate and progress of
decomposition.
Analysis
Evaluation
Conclusion
This experiment was very helpful in terms of getting information.
At first, I had planned to make the process take five to six weeks, where I decided to
amend it. I changed it to four weeks because the experiment was faster than I
originally anticipated. It worked just as well. Also, the egg shell in the vinegar can
be classified as decomposed. Next, the soil was frozen. The experiment would have
gone better if it had plenty of living bacteria in it.
In conclusion to my experiment testing decomposition rates of an egg shell
depending on soil types, it was clear which substance slowed the rate of
decomposition versus which substances increased the decomposition rate.
The egg shell in the vinegar broke down the fastest, leaving only bubbly remnants
on the surface of the liquid. However, the egg shell in the compost was the fastest
to decompose. The shell in the ice froze completely and there was no notable
change.

In order of fastest rate to slowest

Vinegar
The egg shell broke down well in the vinegar because it's an acid. Acids deteriorate
calcium, the main factor in an egg shell.
Compost
It is key for a decomposition for there to be bacteria. Bacteria like moist areas. The
compost bucket was very moist and there were already bacteria there to break
down the rest of the contents. It was very easy for the egg shell to decompose.
Analysis (continued)
Soil
The egg shell in the soil decomposed very little. This is because the soil was already
half frozen when it was dug up, so the bacteria living in it had died due to the cold.
Garbage

The egg shell in the garbage decomposed only slightly. Bacteria do not like plastic.
The plastic around the surroundings of the egg shell was not a good place for
calcium eating bacteria, so there was an obvious lack in decomposition.
Ice
The egg shell in the ice did not decompose at all. The conditions were too cold for
the bacteria to live in so there was nothing getting at the egg shell.
Materials
1. Water
2. Soil fertilized soil, common waste, vinegar, compost, ice
3. 5 medium buckets
4. 5 egg shells
The compost egg shell turned brownish.
before
after
before
after
before
after
before
after
no change
Results
Temperature
Sun light
For Mr. Chase
By Kayla Charbonneau
9 Science 1DB
January 2015