This description was originally prepared to assist users of du Pont titanium tetrachloride in planning safe storage and handling procedures. The excerpts presented below are based on du Pont experience.
Titanium tetrachloride is a colorless to light-yellow liquid with a pungent odor.
Titanium tetrachloride is very susceptible to hydrolysis, and the liquid fumes strongly when exposed to moist air. The fumes are dense and persistent and consist of hydrochloric acid, finely divided particles of titanium oxychloride and hydrated oxides of titanium. Chemical Properties Titanium tetrachloride breaks down almost completely on solution in water converting into colloidally dispersed titanium oxyhydrates. The reaction of liquid TiCl4 with water is extremely violent, almost explosive. The products in strong HCl solution are clear at room temperature.