naphthalene
3
9.9
A white solid with a strong smell used in mothballs and to make other chemicals
- noun
- /ˈnæfθəˌliːn/
- Specialized
:
naftaleno
- Today's formula contains no naphthalene.
- naphthalene metabolites
Examples
-
The dress smelled of naphthalene and faded perfumes.
Fiction book (2002) -
The original formula contained naphthalene, a benzene petroleum-based solvent.
Blog text (5) -
The main ingredient in mothballs is naphthalene, which helps repel moths.
-
After storing the clothes, I noticed a lingering smell of naphthalene from the mothballs.
-
To protect his winter garments, he placed naphthalene mothballs in the storage box.
Compounds
naphthalene poisoning
- Specialized
1
8.6
Sickness from breathing in or swallowing mothballs that makes you feel unwell and gives a headache
Surface Forms
naphthalene singular
naphthalenes plural
Etymology
Naphthalene comes from naphtha, an old word for 'tar' or 'oil', plus the chemical ending -ene which names a simple kind of chemical. So, naphthalene is a strong-smelling chemical made from coal tar or oil and is often used in mothballs to protect clothes.