structure and medicinal uses of naphthalene

Naphthalene is a white, crystalline solid with a distinct odor reminiscent of mothballs. It slowly sublimes at room temperature, generating a highly flammable vapor.  John Kidd (1775–1851), an English chemist and physician, is credited with discovering naphthalene from coal tar in 1819. It contains a complex hydrocarbon mixture similar to what is found in petroleum. … Read more