Naphthenic
/næfˈθiːnɪk/noun
Relating to naphthenes, saturated cyclic hydrocarbons found especially in petroleum.
Did you know?Naphthenic acids in crude oil can corrode refinery equipment, making certain petroleum deposits chemically aggressive despite their ordinary appearance.
Etymological Timeline
2nd millennium BCE
Akkadian
napṭu
“Petroleum or bitumen, a naturally occurring flammable substance”
Classical Antiquity
Greek
νάφθα (náphtha)
“Naphtha or naturally emerging petroleum”
Ancient Latin
Latin
naphtha
“A volatile petroleum-like liquid”
19th Century
English
naphthene
“A cyclic saturated hydrocarbon associated with petroleum”
19th Century
English
naphthenic
“Relating to naphthenes or their chemical properties”
Modern English
English
naphthenic
“Pertaining especially to cycloalkanes and petroleum-derived naphthenic acids”