Which is heavier, a regular egg or one containing a chick about to hatch? I'd say they should be identical.

Answer 1

The chick about to hatch, as new chemical compounds are made which have higher densities. Excess space is taken up by air and water vapor which is absorbed through the egg shell

Answer 2

The egg containing a chick about to hatch.

Think about it, does a 3 by 3 by 3 wood weight the same as a metal cube the same size? The chick now has bone density and the organs would weight quite a bit more. And when it's about to hatch, the air space (whatever that is called) found on the bottom of the egg disappears and is now replaced by flesh.

Answer 3

The egg loses mass as the chick develops. Gasses are exchanged through pores in the shell. If I recall correctly some of the mass lost is water that evaporates through the pores. The egg definitely does not gain mass.

Over its 21 days of incubation a chicken egg weighing 60g will take up 6 liters of O2 and give off 4.5 liters of CO2 and 11 liters of water vapor. Because of water loss the egg will weigh only 51 grams after 21 days. The chick will weigh approx. 39g. That is a loss of 9g of mass or approx. 15% of the initial mass.

Answer 4

I'm a believer in the closed system answer.

If gasses could leave, they could enter as well. Therefore the 'gasses leaving' argument could be just as good a reason for saying the egg would be heavier.

Good question. I've lived a good chunk of my life around science and agriculture and I don't really know. I'll ask my friend at the USDA.

Answer 5

You should be right, as nothing enters or leaves the egg.

Answer 6

probably less. the egg does not take in materials, but has the ability to emit gases

Answer 7

Chickens come from KFC, not from eggs.

I suppose logically, they would HAVE to weight the same.

Answer 8

u r right

Answer 9

Should be identical.

Answer 10

Remains same weight.