Egg Shell Lab
Date: 10/16/25
Partners: Freddy Li, Vanessa Le Nguyen, Karl Rix
Background
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the percentage by mass of calcium carbonate
(CaCO₃) present in an eggshell. Eggshells are primarily composed of calcium carbonate, which
reacts with acids to produce carbon dioxide gas. In this experiment, back titration was used: an
excess known amount of hydrochloric acid (HCl) was added to dissolve the CaCO₃ in the
eggshell. The remaining unreacted acid was then diluted, and an aliquot of the solution was
titrated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH). By finding the difference between the initial and
remaining moles of HCl, the amount of CaCO₃ in the sample was determined.
Materials
● 1 eggshell
● 1.00 mol dm⁻³ hydrochloric acid solution
● 0.100 mol dm⁻³ sodium hydroxide solution
● Phenolphthalein indicator
● Conical flask
● Volumetric flask (100 cm³)
● Pipette (20.0 cm³)
● Burette
● Graduated pipette
● Balance
● Distilled water
● Mortar and pestle
Variables
● Independent variable: Mass of the eggshell sample used
● Dependent variable: Volume of NaOH used to neutralize HCl
● Controlled variables: Concentrations of the acid and base solutions
Procedure
1. Measure approximately 0.600 g of eggshell using a balance. Wash it thoroughly with
distilled water and dry it completely.
2. Grind the dried eggshell into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle and place it into a
conical flask.
3. Using a graduated pipette, add 20.0 cm³ of 1.00 mol dm⁻³ HCl to the flask while swirling
to ensure mixing.
4. Allow the reaction to proceed until all calcium carbonate has reacted with the acid.
5. Filter the mixture using filter paper to remove any solid residue.
6. Add 20 cm³ of distilled water to the filtrate and transfer the solution into a 100 cm³
volumetric flask.
7. Fill the volumetric flask to the calibration mark with distilled water.
8. Pipette a 10.0 cm³ aliquot of this solution into a clean conical flask.
9. Add two drops of phenolphthalein indicator and titrate the solution with 0.100 mol dm⁻³
NaOH until the solution turns pink and the color persists for at least 30 seconds.
10.Record the burette readings and calculate the volume of NaOH used.
11.Repeat the titration for three consistent trials.
Data
Table 1: Initial Measurements
Component Instrument Measurement (± uncertainty)
Eggshell Balance 0.600 ± 0.001 g
HCl Graduated pipette 20.00 ± 0.30 cm³
Volumetric flask – 100.00 ± 0.08 cm³
Aliquot Graduated cylinder 10.00 ± 0.05 cm³
Table 2: Titration Trials
Trial # Volume of NaOH used (± 0.1
cm³)
1 8.50
2 8.00
3 8.00
Average 8.17 cm³
Percentage and Uncertainty Propagation
1) Moles of HCl initially added
𝑛𝐻𝐶𝑙 (𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙) = 1. 00 × 0. 02000 = 0.02000 mol
0.0003
Uncertainty in volume= 0.02000
= 0.015
0.02000 ± 0.015
2) Moles of NaOH used in titration
Average NaOH used: 8.17
𝑛𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 = 0. 100 × 0. 00817 = 0.000817 mol
0.0001
Uncertainty in volume= 0.00817
= 0.01224
0.000817 ± 0.01224
3
3) Moles of unreacted HCl in 10. 00 𝑐𝑚 aliquot = 0.000817 mol
3
4) Moles of unreacted HCl in 100 𝑐𝑚 = 0.000750 mol x 10 = 0.00817 mol
5) Moles of HCl reacted with 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3
𝑛𝐻𝐶𝑙 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 = 0.02000 – 0.00817 = 0.01183 mol
6) Moles of 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 in eggshell:
𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 + 2𝐻𝐶𝑙 → 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑙2 + 𝐻2𝑂 + 𝐶𝑂2
0.01183
𝑛𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂 = 2
= 0.005915 mol
3
7) Mass of 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 = 0.005915 mol x 100.0869 = 0.5920g
0.5920
8) Percentage by mass of 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3= 0.6000
x 100 = 98.67%
9) Uncertainty propagation:
Absolute uncertainty of burette and aliquot = 0.10 + 0.05= 0.15
0.15
Relative uncertainty of burette and aliquot = 8.17
x 100 = 1.84%
0.08
Add relative uncertainty of volumetric flask ( 100.00 × 100) = 0.08% → 1.84% +
0.08% = 1.92%
0.30
Add relative uncertainty of HCl pipette ( 20.00 × 100) = 1.5% → 1.92% + 1.5% =
3.42%
0.001
Add relative uncertainty of eggshell mass ( 0.600 × 100) = 0.17% → 3.42% +
0.17% = 3.59%
Percentage by mass of 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 ± uncertainty: 98.67% ± 3.59%
I. Safety Considerations
Substance Risk Precautions
HCl Corrosive & can cause Wear safety goggles,
irritation or burns when gloves, and a lab coat
exposed to skin and eyes
Glassware Broken glass can cause Inspect for cracks before
cuts and bleeding if in use, carefully place
contact with skin glassware on a flat
surface
Conclusion
The experiment successfully determined the percentage by mass of calcium carbonate in an
eggshell using a back titration method. The calculated result was 98.67% ± 3.59%, which is
slightly below 100% and consistent with the expectation that eggshells are primarily composed
of CaCO₃. Minor discrepancies may have arisen from experimental uncertainties, such as
incomplete reaction, measurement inaccuracies, or solution transfer losses. Overall, the results
indicate that the eggshell is composed almost entirely of calcium carbonate, supporting the
hypothesis and validating the back titration technique.