Naphthalene (noun)

A white, crystalline, highly flammable hydrocarbon with a strong, mothball-like odor, used as a raw material in the manufacture of dyes, plastics, and other chemicals.

Origin:

From the arabic word "nafth" meaning "to exude" or "to give off".

Examples:

1. Naphthalene is the main ingredient in mothballs.
2. The chemical is used to produce naphthalene sulfonic acid, a valuable intermediate for the production of dyes and other chemicals.
3. The smell of naphthalene was very strong in the basement.
4. Naphthalene is a toxic substance and should be handled with care.
5. The researcher synthesized naphthalene from coal tar.