It possesses a disagreeable odor, sublimes readily, and turns brown on exposure to air.

[2] Oxidizing agents, such as ferric chloride, give a blue precipitate with solutions of its salts.

Sodium in boiling amyl alcohol reduces the unsubstituted ring, giving tetrahydro-1-naphthylamine.

This tetrahydro compound yields adipic acid when oxidized by potassium permanganate.

Upon treatment with the bis(diazonium) derivative of benzidine, 1-aminonaphthalene-4-sulfonic acid gives Congo red.