I am a subscriber to the Steve Spangler Experiment of the Week. Basically every week I get an email with a new fun and interesting experiment. This week I got an email on Magic Sand. Eric got some magic sand for christmas with a little science experiment kit I got him. It came with some test tubes and a bunch of really cool and fun experiments that kids could try. Basically what magic sand is, is sand that is coated with a special “water repellent” so that even if you submerge the sand in water, it remains dry. It’s cool cause you can actually build a sandcastle underwater and after you pour out the water, the sand is still completely try. Magic sand is a great way to demonstrate to your children the difference between hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties. Hydrophobic means “water-fearing”, while hydrophilic substances are “water-loving”. To demonstrate further the difference between the two, try this little experiment with your kid(s).

1. Fill a plastic soda bottle about 3/4 full with water.
2. Add vegetable oil until the bottle is basically filled up.
3. You will notice right away that the oil and water do not mix together.
4. Add a few drops of your favorite color of food coloring. Notice how the color only colors the water? Try shaking the bottle. The oil and the water still don’t mix.

The vegetable oil is a hydrophobic substance. What substances are hydrophilic? What other substances are hydrophobic? Discuss with your child the differences between the two.

In case you were interested, you can buy magic sand on the Steve Spangler website.