Naphtha
Naphtha (naf"thȧ or nap"thȧ) , noun
[Latin naphtha, Greek na`fqa, fromAr. nafth, nifth.]
1.
(Chemistry) The complex mixture of volatile, liquid, inflammable hydrocarbons, occurring naturally, and usually called crude petroleum, mineral oil, or rock oil.
(Chemistry) 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.
(Chemistry) 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.
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.
Collocations (1)
Naphtha vitrioli (Old Chemistry) , common ethyl ether; -- formerly called sulphuric ether. See Ether.