Magic sand, also known as hydrophobic sand, is manufactured by taking ordinary natural quartz beach sand and treating it with a hydrophobic compound, typically a volatile silicone-based organic substance or trimethylsilanol vapor. This specialized chemical coating repels water completely and prevents the grains from absorbing moisture, causing the sand to retain its dry consistency and clump into fascinating shapes when submerged underwater. When removed from liquid environments, it instantly dries and returns to a free-flowing granular state.