Naphtha

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Naphtha \Naph"tha\ (n[a^]f"th[.a] or n[a^]p"th[.a]), n. [L.
     naphtha, Gr. na`fqa, fr.Ar. nafth, nifth.]
     1. (Chem.) 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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Chem.) 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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     {Naphtha vitrioli} [NL., naphtha of vitriol] (Old Chem.),
        common ethyl ether; -- formerly called {sulphuric ether}.
        See {Ether}.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  naphtha
       n : any of various volatile flammable liquid hydrocarbon
           mixtures; used chiefly as solvents