title: Differentiation of naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene mothballs based on their difference in specific gravity.
abstract: The present study was conducted to measure the specific gravities of paradichlorobenzene and naphthalene mothballs and compare them with the specific gravity of a saturated aqueous solution of sodium chloride (1.197). The specific gravities of 450 paradichlorobenzene mothballs from 5 manufactures and 150 naphthalene mothballs from 2 manufactures were measured with a specific gravity meter. The mean specific gravities of paradichlorobenzene mothballs were between 1.429 and 1.437 (p = 0.99). On the other hand, the mean specific gravities of naphthalene mothballs were between 1.094 and 1.100 (p = 0.99). Based on the fact that paradichlorobenzene mothballs sink in a saturated solution of salt whereas naphthalene mothballs float on it, these 2 kinds of mothballs ought to be rapidly and accurately distinguished in clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koichi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takeda
mesh_terms: D002722:Chlorobenzenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D012996:Solutions; D013046:Specific Gravity
chemical_list: D002722:Chlorobenzenes; D009281:Naphthalenes; D012996:Solutions; C031721:naphthalene; D012965:Sodium Chloride; C018511:4-dichlorobenzene