What is "naphthenic acid"

n. (context chemistry English) any carboxylic acid derived from a naphthene

Naphthenic acid ( CAS: ) (NAs)is the name for an unspecific mixture of several cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl carboxylic acids with molecular weight of 120 to well over 700 atomic mass units. The main fraction are carboxylic acids with a carbon backbone of 9 to 20 carbons. McKee et al. claim that "naphthenic acids (NAs) are primarily cycloaliphatic carboxylic acids with 10 to 16 carbons." Salts of naphthenic acids, which are naphthenates, are widely used as hydrophobic sources of metal ions in diverse applications.

Aluminium salts of naphthenic acid and palmitic acid were combined during World War II to produce napalm. The word "napalm" is derived from the words naphthenic acid and palmitic acid.