is a dense, colourless liquid, although crude samples may be yellow or even red-brown. It is one of the rare transition metal halides that is a liquid at room temperature, vanadium tetrachloride| being another example. This property reflects the fact that molecules of  weakly self-associate. Most metal chlorides are polymers, wherein the chloride atoms bridge between the metals. Its melting point is similar to that of Carbon tetrachloride|.
 has a "closed" electronic shell, with the same number of electrons as the noble gas argon. The tetrahedral structure for  is consistent with its description as a d metal center () surrounded by four identical ligands. This configuration leads to highly symmetrical structures, hence the tetrahedral shape of the molecule.  adopts similar structures to Titanium tetrabromide| and Titanium tetraiodide|; the three compounds share many similarities.  and  react to give mixed halides , where x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4. Magnetic resonance measurements also indicate that halide exchange is also rapid between  and .
 is soluble in toluene and chlorocarbons. Certain arenes form complexes of the type .  reacts exothermically with donor solvents such as THF to give hexacoordinated adducts. Bulkier ligands (L) give pentacoordinated adducts .