Microcosmic salt

Microcosmic salt
IUPAC name Ammonium sodium phosphate
Other names Microcosmic salt, ammonium sodium phosphate, ammonium sodium hydrogen phosphate or phosphorsalz
Identifiers
CAS number	13011-54-6 Y
Properties
Molecular formula	(NH4)NaHPO4
Molar mass	137.0077 g/mol
Appearance	odorless crystals
Density	1.544 g/cm3
Melting point	80 °C, 353 K, 176 °F
Solubility in water	5 parts cold, 1 part boiling water. Practically insoluble in ethanol
Structure
Crystal structure	Monoclinic
Y (verify) (what is: Y/N?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Microcosmic salt (see infobox for other names) is a salt found in urine with the formula (NH₄)NaHPO₄. In the mineral form, microcosmic salt is called stercorite.

The first extraction of pure phosphorus came from this salt, when Hennig Brandt attempted to extract gold from urine.

Microcosmic salt is used in the laboratory as an essential ingredient of the microcosmic salt bead test for identification of metallic radicals on the basis of the color they produce in oxidising or reducing flame, in hot or cold condition.

Microcosmic salts form a tetrahydrate.