Question

Why naphthalene balls kept in stored clothes in our homes disappear over a period of time?

Answer 1

The conversion of solid to gas directly on heating is known as sublimation. Naphthalene or mothballs kept between clothes disappear over a period of time because naphthalene balls undergo sublimation and form naphthalene vapours, which disappear into the air. On sublimation, the kinetic energy of particles increases, and the interparticle attraction decreases, thus they enter directly into their gaseous state.