Category:Naphtha

Naph"tha, n. Etym: [l. naphtha, gr. nafth, nifth.]

1. (chem.)

Defn: the complex mixture of volatile, liquid, inflammable Hydrocarbons, occurring naturally, and usually called crude Petroleum, mineral oil, or rock oil. Specifically: that portion of The distillate obtained in the refinement of petroleum which is Intermediate between the lighter gasoline and the heavier benzine, And has a specific gravity of about 0.7, -- used as a solvent for Varnishes, as a carburetant, illuminant, etc.

2. (chem.)

Defn: one of several volatile inflammable liquids obtained by the Distillation of certain carbonaceous materials and resembling the Naphtha from petroleum; as, boghead naphtha, from boghead coal (obtained at boghead, scotland); crude naphtha, or light oil, from Coal tar; wood naphtha, from wood, etc.

Note: this term was applied by the earlier chemical writers to a Number of volatile, strong smelling, inflammable liquids, chiefly Belonging to the ethers, as the sulphate, nitrate, or acetate of Ethyl. Watts. Naphtha vitrioli etym: [nl., naphtha of vitriol] (old Chem.), common ethyl ether; -- formerly called sulphuric ether. See Ether.