Colorless liquid with a smell similar to that of hexyl ether. Can dissolve in water and most organic solvents. Steam can form explosives with air, react with acid, and pose a risk of combustion when exposed to open flames or strong oxidants. It also reacts with potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide.

Tetrahydrofuran is an important organic synthesis raw material and excellent solvent. Tetrahydrofuran has good solubility for many organic compounds, except for polyethylene, polypropylene, and fluororesin. It can dissolve all organic compounds, especially polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, and butadiene styrene amine, and is widely used as a reactive solvent. As a commonly used solvent, tetrahydrofuran has been widely used in surface coatings, protective coatings, inks, extractants, and surface treatment of synthetic leather. Tetrahydrofuran is an important raw material for the production of polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG) and a major solvent in the pharmaceutical industry. Used as a solvent for natural and synthetic resins (especially vinyl resins), as well as for the production of butadiene, adiponitrile, adipic acid, hexamethylenediamine, etc.