The story
From its alchemical name sal microcosmicum.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Today it means: A white salt, extracted from urine; once used in the preparation of phosphorus, and used in analytical tests for some metals; ammonium sodium hydrogenphosphate (NH₄)NaHPO₄. Full definition →
From its alchemical name sal microcosmicum.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.