Are there more molecules in one tiny grain of sand than there are grains of sand on all the beaches on earth?
925717
There is a big problem with "how big is a grain of sand?".  Sand is defined as having grains from 1/16 millimetre in diameter to 2 millimetres, a huge factor in volume.\n\nHalf a millimetre is the boundary between "medium" and "coarse" sand.  One such grain would weigh a five-thousandth of a gram, and based on a whole series of "average" or "typical" figure for other properties, it could reasonably be estimated to contain about 8 * 10^17 molecules.\n\n8 * 10^17 grains of that size spread out 1 foot deep would only occupy an area about 9 miles by 9 miles.  I think that all the beaches on earth should beat that quite handily.  However, if you choose the very coarsest sand, it goes up by 64 times as many molecules then 64 times as many of those grains, making about  600 miles by 600 miles which needs a bit more thinking about.  I think the beaches still win, but it's not as obvious.
34438
Sand was not invented.  It was created naturally by waves or other force erroding pieces of quartz (a rock) and making it smaller.
202909
it varies on how large the beach in question is. larger=more sand
1177435
Let's do a quick calculation. If a grain of sand is 1 millimeter across, there would be 1000 laid end-to end to make a meter, so 1,000,000 to make a kilometer. That is 10^6. To make a cubic kilometer would take (10^6)^3=10^18 grains (approximately).\n\nNow, water has a molecular weight of 18 amu and so a mole of water weighs 18 grams. This will fill 18 cubic centi-meters. One ounce is about 30 cc, so a cup would be about 240 cc, so about 13 moles. So, in that volume of water, there will be 13 times Avagadro's number of water molecules. This is about 8*10^24 molecules.\n\nDividing, there are as many water molecules in a cup of water as there are grains of sand in 8,000,000 cubic kilometers. So now the question is how many cubic kilometers of sand are there in the world?\n\nWell, the earth has a radius of 6*10^3 kilometers, which gives a total surface area of 4*pi*(6*10^3)^2, or  about 5*10^8 square kilometers. Dividing again, we see that the average depth of sand to have the same number of sand grains as molecules of water in a cup is about 1.6*10^(-2) kilometers, which is 160 meters.  This seems roughly right, so I would say that there about about the same number of grains as there are molecules.\n\nI hope this helps!
996200
not sure about sand, but water washes away your natural lubricant so it can hurt alot sometimes and the water can also make you prone to bacteria.
15381
sand is made up of a chemical compound called Silica (SiO2).
110846
Particulates from 'smoke'.\nSoil that has been eroded by the wind.\nSalt crystals lifted off the sea.\nPollen\nSeeds from plants such as dandelionor orchids.\nWindborne microbes or their spores.\nAnimals, mainly birds and insects, but also spiders and other animals that are blown from place to place.\n\n\n________\n\n>>>> none they are all gases\n\nYeah, like all the material in the ocean is a liquid, right? And all the material in the ground is a solid?\n\nDid you even stop to think before answering?
767521
-A desert is similar because the dunes seem to look like waves.  There are high points and low points.  \n\n-Also, sand can become liquified in certain situations, though I'm not sure if that can help...\n\n-Sand covers just as a sea would.  It can blanket vast lands.\n\n-There is a point where you cannot see past a certain point while in a sea or in a desert.  Like when people say they are lost at sea and they cannot see land.  Same in a desert..only the land they are looking for is normal land.
461
Without checking astronomical data, I'll try the chemical approach:\n\nThe most abundant elements in the universe are hydrogen (with a big lead) and most of the other light elements, so we have to look for the most probable triatomic molecule we can form from light elements.\n\nThis makes H2O my prime candidate, being the most stable molecule to contain two hydrogen atoms. HCN or CO2 have a much lower probability. SiO2 is pretty abundant, but not as distinct molecules.
127999
On a failr recent space mission an austronaut was goofing around and was swirling different things around in plastic bags - salt, sugar, liquids, ect...\nScientists who observed these experiements noticed that despite a lack of gravity, friction between the granular items caused a static reaction that pulled the grains together.  Some scientists feel that this is why planets are formed.
828414
We are dealing with an illusion caused by grain size and moisture content here.  In fact sand is quite hard because it is made up of individual rock and mineral grains.  Limestone and quartz are pretty hard materials.  If a sand is damp, or has very small rounded grains, it can feel soft to the hand however.\n\nClays on the other hand are soft because they are created by the chemical weathering of other minerals (such as pyroxene or feldspar) and the individual clay units are microscopic in size.  Clays usually contain a high proportion of water in their structure as well (it can be as high as 70%).\n\nWhen a geologist in the field can't make out the whether a rock is a siltstone (clastic) or clay (chemical) because the grain sizes are too small to see, a simple test is to break off a small fragment put it between ones teeth.  If its chewy and soft, its a clay.  If its hard and gritty, its a silt. \n(Warning - experts only folks.  Some rocks contain poisonous minerals so don't go around randomly tasting rocks.)
1133088
It's been said that there are more stars in the Universe than there are grains of sand on the Earth.
541351
Different scenarios for different environments.  Sand is a habitat for many marine animals.\n\nIn the case of sand dunes along the coast- they are natural structures which protect the coastal environment by absorbing energy from wind, tide and wave action.
882060
In order to give you an answer i need to know moles of what! a mole or mol contains Avogadro's number (approximately 6.022×10 to the 23 power molecules of whatever) a mol of oxygen and a mole of lead weight 2 different things. a mole of air is easy to pick up a mole of sand you can not move.
469041
Quartz & Feldspar make up most of the abiogenic sands (eroded from rocks).\n\nActually silica (silicon dioxide) & quartz are the same thing.\n\nThe other is feldspar which usually breaks down into clay depending upon the right surface conditions (wet/humid).
657889
there are more stars in the sky than specs of sand on all the beaches in the world................. so to answer your question..yes there are more stars in the sky than leaves on all the trees
557119
Sand in the ocean deals with water. Sand in the desert would be dealing with wind and heat. Ocean water also contains minerals/salts which may be adhering or tearing away at the sand. The only water desert sand may ever encounter is more than likely the rare rainfall- freshwater, which if anything would help "wash" away any minerals bonding to it. Wet vs. Dry- either way sand gets in places you don't want it... So just keep away from it unless you're gonna superheat the stuff and make glass.. heheh.