The pKa's of benzoic acid and 2-naphthol are 4.17 and 9.5, respectively, while naphthalene is a neutral compound. Since benzoic acid is much more acidic than 2-naphthol, the weak base, sodium bicarbonate, will be able to effectively remove benzoic acid's acidic hydrogen.

What is the pH of naphthalene?

Executive summary: The pH of 1,4-Naphthalenedicarboxylic acid at 10% in water is 3.6 (according to OECD 122 and DIN 19268:2007-05).

Is naphthalene a weak acid?

Benzoic acid(C6H5-COOH) is a weak acid(pKa=4.2) and naphthalene is neutral, neither acidic or basic.