In contact with fire, it readily explodes, producing large amounts of black smoke.

It is prepared by reacting sodium nitrite with an aminoguanidine salt dissolved in acetic acid at 30–40 °C.

A sample of tetrazene was heated in an oven at 90 °C and its rate of thermal decomposition was monitored by infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopy.

Many explosives are considered to be highly sensitive to mechanical stimuli such as impact, friction, stab, heat, static electricity, flame, etc.

[4] Instances of occupational rhinitis, dermatitis, and asthma have been reported due to prolonged exposure to tetrazene.