Naphthalenesulfonates are derivatives of sulfonic acid which contain a naphthalene functional unit. A related family of compounds are the aminonaphthalenesulfonic acids.
Naphthalene sulfonates are compounds that combine a naphthalene ring with sulfonic acid groups. Another family of similar compounds, the aminonaphthalenesulfonic acids, contain both sulfonic and amino groups attached to the naphthalene core.