microcosmic : Idioms & Phrases
Index
Microcosmic salt
-
noun a white salt present in urine and used to test for metal oxides
WordNet
(Chem.) , a white crystalline substance obtained by mixing solutions of sodium phosphate and ammonium phosphate, and also called hydric-sodic-ammonic-phosphate. It is a powerful flux, and is used as a substitute for borax as a blowpipe reagent in testing for the metallic oxides. Originally obtained by the alchemists from human urine, and called sal microcosmicum.