napthalin

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Chemical compound: "naphthalin" (also spelled naphthalene) is a white crystalline hydrocarbon, C₁₀H₈, derived from coal tar or petroleum, used in mothballs, dyes, and as a chemical intermediate.
   • Moth repellent: In common usage, it refers to the solid substance placed in closets or storage areas to repel moths and other insects.

Usage Examples

• (The chemical odor of moth repellent.)
• (The compound used in manufacturing.)

Advanced Usage

• "napthalin poisoning": a medical condition caused by ingestion or inhalation of naphthalin, leading to hemolytic anemia or liver damage.

  • The child was hospitalized after accidental napthalin poisoning from eating mothballs. (Toxicity from the chemical.)

• "napthalin sublimation": the process by which naphthalin transitions directly from solid to gas, which makes it effective as a fumigant.

  • The mothballs slowly disappear due to napthalin sublimation. (The solid turns into vapor.)

Variants and Related Words

• Naphthalene (n): the standard chemical spelling of the same compound.

  • Naphthalene is used in the synthesis of phthalic anhydride. (The compound in industrial chemistry.)

• Naphthalic (adj): relating to or derived from naphthalin.

  • Naphthalic acid is a derivative of naphthalin used in organic synthesis. (An acid derived from the compound.)

Synonyms

• Mothball: a ball of naphthalin used to repel moths.
• Tar camphor: an older term for naphthalin, referencing its camphor-like smell.

Related Idioms

• "Smell of naphthalin": a phrase used to describe the distinctive, pungent odor of mothballs, often associated with old or stored clothing.
  • The antique shop had a faint smell of naphthalin from the vintage clothes. (The characteristic odor.)

Phrasal Verbs

• "napthalin out": an informal phrase meaning to treat or fumigate with naphthalin.
  • They had to napthalin out the closet to kill the moth larvae. (Apply naphthalin as a fumigant.)