Acetnaphthalide

/ˌæsɪtoʊˈnæfθəlaɪd/ noun

Definition

A chemical compound formed by combining acetic acid with naphthalene, used in dye manufacturing and chemical synthesis.

Etymology

From aceto- (acetic acid) + naphthalide (derived from naphthalene, a hydrocarbon). Naphthalene itself comes from Greek 'naphtha' (flammable liquid) combined with the chemical suffix -ene for hydrocarbons.

Kelly Says

Naphthalene gives mothballs their distinctive smell, and acetnaphthalide is one of many useful chemicals that chemists create by modifying this simple coal tar compound—showing how one natural substance can become hundreds of different industrial products.

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