A Natural Adhesive: Egg and Honey Pt. 2

Between Egg and Honey

Which, if not both, is better?

Picture 1: Rock 4, with mixture

When my first experiment ended and the write up began, all I could really think about was how to come away with better results. Using only the small amount of information from the Sherlock Holmes movie, I created several tests to see whether or not a mixture of egg and honey could for an adhesive to hold a sandstone grave stone together. After the experiment, and seeing the negative results, I decided to research into the hypothesis and then recreate the experiment, using several more tests.

Materials:

Six rocks broken into two, with very neat cracks

Two eggs

Honey

Metal whisk

Three plastic pastry brushes

A spoon

Butter knife

Five small bowls

Procedure:

Once again, I went outside and broke six rocks. While choosing whichever rock, I focused on rocks that looked like they would not shatter under pressure. I washed them off in plain water, and air-dried them for the experiment.

Taking the two eggs and three bowls, I separated one egg and kept the other whole. Using the information I gained from my research, I independently whisked each bowl, especially taking more time with the egg white. For spreading the egg out, I used the pastry brushes. In the last bowl, I put a spoonful of honey, using the butter knife to dish it onto the selected rocks. (Picture 2: The Rocks 1-6 labeled and with mixtures applied)

For the water portion of the experiment, I submerged each rock into a common serving bowl and let them individually sit in tap water for a couple of minutes. Then, using my fingers, I removed as much of the mixture from each rock and set them ouside to dry.

Results:

Rock 1: Rock 1 had a mixture of honey in the crack with egg white completely encasing the rock. When the mixture dried, the rock still fell apart into two; the honey never dried. However, the egg white left a very polished look. This trait was common in all rocks. After the rock had been submerged into the water, the mixture came off easily and left a little bit of residue in the water. The rock had not physical evidence of the mixture after drying in the sun.

Rock 2: Rock 2 had a mixture of a whole egg, whipped. After the mixture had dried, other than a very polished look, there was no evidence of tampering. Using just my strength, I was unable to break the rock into two. During the water submersion, the rock became slimy and the water gave off an egg smell (as well as Rock 3 and 4). In the water, you could see parts of the egg white. I was still unable to break it apart, including after it had dried in the sun.

Rock 3: Rock 3 only had a mixture of whipped yolk. It gave off a very yellowish tint and small bubbles appeared after the rock had dried. I was unable to break it into two after it had dried. Of all the rocks, this was the slimiest in the water and it also was unbreakable, even after drying it outside.

Rock 4: Rock 4 had honey in the crack with yolk on the whole surface. However with a very waxy feeling, the yolk left no hint of yellow. It was easily broken into two pieces, as the honey had not dried. When submerged in the water, the rock was as slimy as Rock 2, and pieces of the yolk were in the water. It cleaned easily, including the honey.

Rock 5: Rock 5 had only whipped egg white over the whole surface. It left barely any gloss over the rock. After extensive force, the rock broke into two. In the water, Rock 5 was the easiest to clean and there was no sign of the egg white.

Rock 6: Rock 6 had honey poured over one side of the rock and in between the crack. The honey did not dry at all but it did dissolve fairly quickly in water. It left a sweet honey smell in the water.

In Conclusion:

The results from this experiment were very different from the last. Any rock that was put back together with honey could not stand up to pressure and fell apart. However, some of the just egg mixtures were too strong and would not dissolve in water. Using just yolk showed obvious signs of tampering due to the yellowish tint and the tiny bubbles; also, the yolk does not dissolve. Although egg white does not show any signs of tampering, it alone is not strong. I would say the best mixture would be to use a whole egg that has been whipped, to keep something together. However, using the whole egg would mean that the slab of stone that Sherlock Holmes investigated would not break into pieces under rainwater. I suppose a combination of egg white only and whole egg mixtures could solve the problem.

So, in short hand, the conclusion is simple. Do not use honey to glue anything together as it does not dry. Using the yolk of an egg will cement things together and will not dissolve in water, as well as using a whole egg. Egg white leaves no glossy residue, but breaks apart after some for is applied to it; it also dissolves easily in water.

I hope everyone who reads this has enjoyed this journey through experimentation! This question of whether or not egg and honey could create an adhesive has been an interesting expedition that I have fully enjoyed in experiencing. Should anyone have any questions about the experiment or conclusion, please leave me a comment and I will answer it to the best of my ability. If you have any suggestions for future experiments of topics of interest, also leave me a comment!