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naphthalene

Pronunciation: /ˈnafθəliːn/
Definition of naphthalene

noun

[mass noun] Chemistry
  • a volatile white crystalline compound produced by the distillation of coal tar, used in mothballs and as a raw material for chemical manufacture.
    • A bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; chemical formula: C10H8

Derivatives

naphthalic

Pronunciation: /-ˈθalɪk/
adjective

Origin:

early 19th century: from naphtha + -ene, with the insertion of -l- for ease of pronunciation

naphthalene in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of naphthalene in the US English dictionary

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