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Naphthalene is an organic compound with the formula C10H8. It is the simplest polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, and is a white crystalline solid, which is flammable with a characteristic odour that is detectable at concentrations as low as 0.08 ppm by mass. As an aromatic hydrocarbon, naphthalene’s structure consists of a fused pair of benzene rings. Naphthalene is the most abundant component of coal tar, which is the liquid by-product of the distillation of coal into coke for use as a smokeless fuel. In addition, naphthalene is produced upon the burning of organic material, such as fossil fuels, wood and tobacco, and is present in exhaust emissions and cigarette smoke. [1,2]
