microcosmic salt
noun
: a white crystalline salt NaNH4HPO4.4H2O that is obtained by mixing solutions of sodium phosphate and ammonium phosphate or chloride, that is changed to a sodium phosphate glass on heating, and that is used as a flux like borax in beads for testing for metallic oxides and salts; sodium ammonium hydrogen phosphate
Word History
Etymology
translation of New Latin sal microcosmicus; from the fact that it was originally obtained from human urine