naphthalene

Also naphtha·line,
Also

[naf-thuh-leen, nap-]

noun

Chemistry.

1. a white, crystalline, water-insoluble hydrocarbon, C 1 0 H 8 , usually obtained from coal tar: used in making dyes, as a moth repellant, etc.

naphthalene

/ ˈnæp-, ˈnæfθəˌliːn, ˈnæfθəlɪn, ˈnæp-, næp-, næfˈθælɪk /

noun

1. a white crystalline volatile solid with a characteristic penetrating odour: an aromatic hydrocarbon used in mothballs and in the manufacture of dyes, explosives, etc. Formula: C 10 H 8

naphthalene

1. A white crystalline compound made from coal tar or petroleum and used to make dyes, mothballs, explosives, and solvents. Naphthalene consists of two benzene rings fused together. Chemical formula: C ₁₀ H ₈ .

Other Word Forms

• naphthalic adjective
• naphthalenic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of naphthalene¹

First recorded in 1865–70; naphth- + -al ³ + -ene

Word History and Origins

Origin of naphthalene¹

C19: from _naphtha + _alcohol + _-ene

Example Sentences

This includes extremely challenging aromatic molecules with very high oxidation potentials such as naphthalene, toluene, or benzene.

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In this new approach, the team produced benzenes and naphthalenes with functional groups which are attached precisely to specific positions.

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Indene is a starting material frequently used in the production of organic compounds, as is the product naphthalene.

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It said those samples showed elevated levels of the hazardous chemicals benzene and naphthalene.

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Our test results indicated that all the 52 children we tested had high levels in their urine of metabolised naphthalene, a possible carcinogen.

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