CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

An eggshell is the outer covering of a hard-shelled egg and of some forms of eggs

with soft outer coats. The bird egg is a fertilized gamete (or, in the case of some birds, such

as chickens, possibly unfertilized) located on the yolk surface and surrounded by albumen, or

egg white. The albumen in turn is surrounded by two shell membranes (inner and outer

membranes) and then the eggshell. The chicken eggshell is 95-97% calcium

carbonate crystals, which are stabilized by a protein matrix. Without the protein, the crystal

structure would be too brittle to keep its form and the organic matrix is thought to have a role

in deposition of calcium during the mineralization process. The structure and composition of

the avian eggshell serves to protect the egg against damage and microbial contamination,

prevention of desiccation, regulation of gas and water exchange for the growing embryo, and

provides calcium for embryogenesis. Eggshell formation requires gram amounts of calcium

being deposited within hours, which must be supplied via the hen's diet.

The fibrous chicken shell membranes are added in the proximal (white) isthmus of

the oviduct. In the distal (red) isthmus mammillae or mammillary knobs are deposited on the

surface of the outer membrane in a regular array pattern. The mammillae are proteoglycan-

rich and are thought to control calcification. In the shell gland (similar to a mammalian

uterus), mineralization starts at the mammillae. The shell gland fluid contains very high

levels of calcium and bicarbonate ions. The thick calcified layer of the eggshell forms in

columns from the mammillae structures, and is known as the palisade layer. Between these

palisade columns are narrow pores that traverse the eggshell and allow gaseous exchange.

The cuticle forms the final, outer layer of the eggshell.

 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

While the bulk of eggshell is made of calcium carbonate, it is now thought that the

protein matrix has an important role to play in eggshell strength. These proteins affect

crystallization, which in turn affects the eggshell structure. Moreover, the concentration of

eggshell proteins decreases over the life of the laying hen, as does eggshell strength.

In an average laying hen, the process of shell formation takes around 20

hours. Pigmentation is added to the shell by papillae lining the oviduct, coloring it any of a

variety of colors and patterns depending on species. Since eggs are usually laid blunt end

first, that end is subjected to most pressure during its passage and consequently shows the

most color.

As they contain mainly calcium carbonate, bird eggshells dissolve in various acids,

including the vinegar used in cooking. While dissolving, the calcium carbonate in an

eggshell reacts with the acid to form carbon dioxide.

Eggshell waste is fundamentally composed of calcium carbonate, and has the potential

to be used as raw material in the production of lime. The rich calcium carbonate shell has

been used in the application for calcium deficiency therapies in humans and animals. A

single eggshell has a mass of six grams which yields around 2200 mg of calcium

(6000 mg × 0.95 × 0.4= 2280 mg). Eggshell particles are used in toothpaste as an anti-tartar

agent.[14] Powdered eggshells have been used for bone mineralization and growth. Recent

applications of eggshells include producing calcium lactate as a firming agent, a flavor

enhancer, a leavening agent, a nutrient supplement, a stabilizer, and thickener. Eggshells are

also used as a calcium supplement in orange juice. Eggshells have been incorporated

into fertilizers as a soil conditioner. They have also been used as a supplement to animal
 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

feed. More recently the egg calcium carbonate particles have been used as coating pigments

for ink-jet printing. Powdered eggshells are also used in making paper pulp. Recently

eggshell waste has been used as a low cost catalyst for biodiesel production. Chicken

eggshells have been additionally incorporated as a calcium precursor into the synthesis of

calcium-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).

Recently, researchers have utilized chicken eggshells as a biofiller with a conducting

polymer to enhance its sensing properties. Typically, eggshells were used as biofiller in

polyaniline matrix to detect ammonia gas. The optimum ratio between eggshells and

polyaniline could enhance this sensor measurement.

COMPOSITION OF EGG SHELL

 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

The calcium carbonate content of eggshells can be easily determined by means of an

acid/base back-titration. In this experiment, a strong acid will react with calcium carbonate in

eggshells. Then, the amount of unreacted acid will be determined by titration with a strong

base.

OBJECTIVES

• Determine the amount of calcium carbonate present in an eggshell.

• Relate experimental titration measurements to a balanced chemical equation.

• Infer a conclusion from experimental data.

• Apply reaction stoichiometry concepts.

 CHAPTER 2: MATERIALS AND METHODS

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

• 1.00 M HCl

• 1.00 M NaOH

• 10 mL graduated cylinder

• 50 mL micro solution bottle or small Erlenmeyer flask

• 100 mL beaker

• Balance

• Desiccator (optional)

• Distilled water

• Drying oven

• Eggshell

• Forceps

• Mortar and pestle

• Phenolphthalein solution

• Thin-stemmed pipets or medicine droppers, 3

• Weighing papers.

• Egg shell used :

PREPARATION

1. Wash an empty eggshell with distilled water and carefully peel all the membranes from

its inside. Place all of the shell in a premassed beaker and dry the shell in the drying oven at

110°C for about 15 min.

2. Use Data Table 1 and Data Table 2 to record your data.

 CHAPTER 2: MATERIALS AND METHODS

3. Put exactly 5.0 mL of water in the 10.0 mL graduated cylinder. Record this volume in

Data Table 1. Label the first pipet Acid. To calibrate the pipet, fill it with water. Do not use

this pipet for the base solution. Holding the pipet vertically, add 20 drops of water to the

cylinder. Record the new volume of water in the graduated cylinder in Data Table 1 under

Trial 1.

4. Without emptying the graduated cylinder, add an additional 20 drops from the pipet.

Record the new volume for Trial 2. Repeat this procedure once more for Trial 3.

5. Repeat Preparation steps 3 and 4 for the second pipet. Label this pipet Base. Do not use

this pipet for the acid solution.

6. Make sure that the three trials produce data that are similar to one another. If one is greatly

different from the others, perform Preparation steps 3–5 again.

7. Remove the eggshell and beaker from the oven. Cool them in a desiccator. Record the

mass of the entire eggshell in Data Table 2. Place half of the shell into the clean mortar, and

grind the shell into a very fine powder.

PROCEDURE

1. Measure the mass of a piece of weighing paper. Transfer about 0.1 g of ground eggshell to

a piece of weighing paper, and measure the eggshell’s mass as accurately as possible. Record

the mass in Data Table 2. Place this eggshell sample into a clean, 50 mL micro solution

bottle (or Erlenmeyer flask).

 CHAPTER 2: MATERIALS AND METHODS

2. Fill the acid pipet with 1.00 M HCl acid solution, and then empty the pipet into an extra

100 mL beaker. Label the beaker “Waste.” Fill the base pipet with the 1.00 M NaOH base

solution, and then empty the pipet into the waste beaker.

3. Fill the acid pipet once more with 1.00 M HCl. Holding the acid pipet vertically, add

exactly 150 drops of 1.00 M HCl to the bottle or flask that contains the eggshell. Swirl the

flask gently for 3 to 4 min. Observe the reaction taking place. Wash down the sides of the

flask with about 10 mL of distilled water. Using a third pipet, add two drops of

phenolphthalein solution.

4. Fill the base pipet with the 1.00 M NaOH. Slowly add NaOH from the base pipet into the

bottle or flask that contains the eggshell reaction mixture. Stop adding base when the mixture

remains a faint pink color, even after it is swirled gently. Be sure to add the base drop by

drop, and be certain the drops end up in the reaction mixture and not on the walls of the

bottle or flask. Keep careful count of the number of drops used. Record in Data Table 2 the

number of drops of base used.

5. Clean all equipment and your lab station. Dispose of chemicals and solutions as directed

by your teacher. Wash your hands thoroughly before you leave the lab.
 CHAPTER 3: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CALCULATIONS:

VOLUME OF NaOH (mL)

s.no. VOLUME OF HCl (mL)
INITIAL FINAL
1. 0
2. 0
3. 0

Molecular weight of CaCO3 = 100.1 g/mol

2HCl (aq) + CaCO3(s) → Ca2+ (aq) + CO2(g) + H2O + 2Cl- (aq)

HCl (aq) + NaOH (aq) → H2O (l) + Na+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)

1. Number of moles of NaOH used to react with HCl :

= VNaOH X MNaOH

2. Since number of moles of NaOH = Number of moles of HCl = 2.973 X 10-3 mol
3. Initial number of moles of HCL = VolumeHCl X MolarityHCl

4. Number of moles of HCl used to react with CaCO3 :

 CHAPTER 3: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

5. According to the equation two mole HCl required to react with one 1 mole of CaCO3 :
Number of moles of CaCO3 reacted = Moles of HCl reacted X (1mol of CaCO3 / 2
mol of HCl )

6. Weight of CaCO3 =

7. The % of CaCO3 in eggshell :

 CHAPTER 4: CONCLUSION

No. of moles of NaOH used to react with HCl/ mol

No. of moles of HCl used to react with NaOH/ mol

Initial moles of HCl/ mol

No. of moles of HCl used to react with CaCO 3 / mol

No. of moles of CaCO3 reacted / mol

The weight of CaCO3 / g

The % of CaCO3 in eggshell

The percent by mass of CaCO3 present in the eggshell is

 REFERENCES

1. Chemical composition of egg shell – Wikipedia.

2. Estimation of calcium carbonate from egg shell – slideshare.net

3. How much cacium carbonate in egg shell? – pdf by Holt, Rinehart and Winston –

Modern Science