Hydrophobic Sand (Magic Sand)

Product Description

This sand has a phobia. It is coated with a water repelling substance that makes it hydrophobic and therefore it passionately hates water. Pour the sand into water to form spectacular underwater sand formations. Pour the water off and the sand is completely dry!
Students can compare this with our hydrophilic substances such as Super Slurper and Instant Expanding Snow.

Also known as: "Magic Sand, Space Sand or Mars Sand"

Classroom teaching tip:
Smear the bowls of four plastic spoons with white paper glue.  Sprinkle each spoon with a different colour of hydrophobic sand and the fourth spoon with ordinary beach sand. Allow to dry overnight.
Have the students place a few drops of water in each spoon with a pipette.

-  Make them list the similarities and differences.
-  Make them toss water back and forth from the hydrophobic spoons and point out that because of hydrogen bonding between water molecules, the water stays together.  For older students a discussion of nonpolar and polar moleclues is appropriate.

The spoons can be left to dry out and be used year after year!

More product information in the file below.

Included: You get 140g sand in three colours.  Due to a change in the product packaging, we cannot send just one colour as indicated in our printed catalogue.
Teach: hydrophobic substances; polarity, “like dissolves like”, nanotechnology
Age: 7+