Camphor is a natural aromatic compound derived from camphor laurel. It is used in mothballs, medical preparations, films, plastics, and explosives. Camphor laurel is an invasive species found in Asia, Japan, and India. Synthetic camphor is commonly used and is synthesized from turpentine. Camphor also appears in some ethnic cuisines, but ingestion of large quantities can cause neurological and respiratory problems. Poison control should be contacted if symptoms of poisoning occur.
Camphor is a natural aromatic compound derived from camphor laurel until the 1920s, when chemists successfully synthesized it. The distinctive odor is familiar to many consumers, as it has traditionally been used in mothballs and some medical preparations to reduce itching. It is also used in a wide variety of other applications, along with other similar plant-derived chemicals, including the manufacture of films, plastics, lacquers, and some explosives. The family of plant compounds to which it belongs is known as terpenoids and includes other aromatics such as menthol and citral.
The formal name for camphor laurel is Cinnamonum camphora and the large trees are found widely scattered throughout Asia, Japan and India. When fully grown, the plants can reach 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 meters) tall and often spread out so that they are wider than they are tall. These evergreen trees thrive in tropical environments and are considered a highly invasive species in some parts of the world because they have no natural predators to keep their growth in check and will suffocate native species. To extract camphor, the leaves and bark of trees are processed through a distiller, resulting in a white crystalline compound with the formula C10H16O.
Most of the products use synthetic camphor. It is most commonly synthesized from turpentine, another aromatic plant compound with similar properties. A series of chemical reactions are used to create a camphor compound, which is then packaged for sale or used in the manufacture of other products. The byproducts of the process can be used to create other useful chemicals. Most manufacturing facilities that produce synthetic forms of the compound also handle other terpenoids, for maximum efficiency.
In addition to manufacturing uses, camphor also appears in some ethnic cuisines, including foods from China and India, albeit only in small quantities. Ingestion of large quantities can cause neurological and respiratory problems, along with seizures, and when used for culinary purposes, should be used with care. Most commonly, camphor poisoning appears after someone accidentally ingests a liniment containing the compound, or applies too much liniment, causing the body to absorb too much through the skin. A poison control center should be contacted if anyone experiences symptoms of poisoning, and if possible, labeling of ingested product should be kept and given to emergency physician.
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