Naphthalene

A fused bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with ten delocalised pi electrons.

Formula
C10H8
Molar mass
128.17 g/mol
Also known as
Naphthalin, Tar camphor, White tar, Albocarbon, Naphthene, Camphor tar

Overview

A fused bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with ten delocalised pi electrons.

Its two rings share a carbon–carbon bond and form one conjugated system. Characteristic electrophilic reactions favour substitution rather than treating each drawn double bond as an independent alkene. Aromaticity extends over the fused framework.

Identifiers

Formula
C10H8
Molar mass
128.17 g/mol
Also known as
Naphthalin, Tar camphor, White tar, Albocarbon, Naphthene, Camphor tar
Chemical identifiers
SMILES
C1=CC=C2C=CC=CC2=C1
InChI
InChI=1S/C10H8/c1-2-6-10-8-4-3-7-9(10)5-1/h1-8H
PubChem CID
931

Properties

Melting Point
80.2 °C
Boiling Point
217.9 °C @760 [mm Hg]
Density
1.16 g/cm³
Water solubility
In water, 31 mg/L at 25 °C

References

  1. PubChem Compound Summary: Naphthalene (CID 931)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem

    Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.

  2. OpenStax Organic Chemistry: Polycyclic aromatic compoundsJohn McMurry · OpenStax · 2023

    Supports the qualitative structure and reactivity context; identity and numerical measurements retain their original references.

  3. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Naphthalene — melting pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/931#section=Melting-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. Cambridge, UK: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013., p. 1187

  4. PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy: Naphthalene — boiling pointPAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/931#section=Boiling-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred.

  5. ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs): Naphthalene — densityILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/931#section=Density. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred.

  6. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Naphthalene — solubilityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/931#section=Solubility. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Pearlman RS et al; J Chem Ref Data 13: 555-562 (1984)