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What is Magic Sand?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Magic sand is ordinary sand that has been coated with trimethylsilanol, a compound that makes it resistant to water. The result is a hydrophobic sand that can be used in all sorts of interesting ways. This substance was originally developed for use in the cleanup of oil spills, but it has come to be used as a children's toy and educational tool instead. Many stores that sell science-orientated kid's toys stock it.

Because this sand resists water, it performs very strangely when exposed to it. The individual grains tend to stick together in the water, creating blocks that can be molded into various shapes. When scattered lightly across the surface of water, the sand will stick together and form a thin layer that will eventually get too heavy to float, sinking slowly to the bottom. This sand also appears slightly silvery underwater, thanks to the bubble of air that forms around the granules.

Magic sand was originally developed for use in the cleanup of oil spills.
Magic sand was originally developed for use in the cleanup of oil spills.

When lifted out of the water, the sand is perfectly dry and free-flowing. People who grew up playing with this product may remember how mesmerizing the mysterious substance was, as the seemingly solid underwater shapes would dissolve instantly when pulled out.

The idea behind this sand when it was initially developed was that it could be scattered across an oil spill to bond to the oil. As it did so, it would grow extremely heavy, eventually sinking to the bottom of the ocean and taking the oil with it. Magic sand proved expensive to manufacture, however, and doubts were raised about the environmental soundness of this cleanup method.

Magic sand has been featured in scientific demonstrations of the properties of hydrophobic material.
Magic sand has been featured in scientific demonstrations of the properties of hydrophobic material.

As a result of its commercial failure, the manufacturer was left wondering what to do with its new invention. The solution was to dye the sand in eye-catching colors, label it “magic sand,” “Mars sand,” or “space sand,” and sell it as a toy. This product was immensely popular in the 1980s, much to the chagrin of parents who had to clean up after their children, and it continues to be used in scientific demonstrations of the properties of hydrophobic materials.

Magic sand can be made at home by baking sand to remove the moisture and then coating it with a water repellent spray designed to protect fabric, tossing the sand to ensure that it is evenly coated.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

scientist

I had an idea for a "magic sand water suit". It would have to be able to form a shell around an object. This amount of sand would be such that its weight would sink the object. It would have to be a little more buoyant. Is this possible?

cmsmith10

I am an elementary school teacher and we use magic sand for experiments. We demonstrate what the terms hydrophobic (water fearing) and hydrophilic (water loving) mean.

You can add some food coloring to water in a clear bottle and then, add oil. This demonstrates the term hydrophobic because oil will not mix with water.

Another experiment is to pour some magic sand on a piece of paper. Let the students touch the dry sand. Ask them if they think the sand will be “water fearing” or “water loving”. Pour the sand into a clear container filled with water. The nature of the magic sand allows the sand to retain its shape under water. You can mold the sand into different shapes. The students love working with magic sand.

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    • Magic sand was originally developed for use in the cleanup of oil spills.
      By: Deviant Ft
      Magic sand was originally developed for use in the cleanup of oil spills.
    • Magic sand has been featured in scientific demonstrations of the properties of hydrophobic material.
      By: Kirill Kedrinski
      Magic sand has been featured in scientific demonstrations of the properties of hydrophobic material.
    • Magic Sand is actual sand coated with a compound that makes it resistant to water.
      By: spaxiax
      Magic Sand is actual sand coated with a compound that makes it resistant to water.