Can you really turn a bone to rubber? Try this easy science experiment with your kids and show them how to do just that! Have fun and amaze your kids with science today.

What you need:

• Large jar
• Drumstick chicken bone
• Vinegar

Number of players:
1+

Activity:

Clean the chicken drumstick bone thoroughly, making sure all meat has been removed.

Note that the bone is extremely hard and does not bend.

Place the bone in the jar and pour enough vinegar in to cover it.

Place a lid on the jar and let it sit for three days.

On the third day, remove the bone from the vinegar.

Try bending it – the bone feels rubbery. But why?

Notes

• How did the bone become ‘rubbery’? Bones are hard because they contain calcium, a mineral contained in human and animal bones. When the chicken bone is submerged in vinegar, which is a mild acid, the vinegar dissolves the calcium. This leaves the bone soft and ‘rubbery.’