It is a colourless solid and behaves as a dibasic acid.
In this respect the plasma behaves in a similar manner towards the sugars as does the living yeast cell.
According to Armstrong, anthracene behaves unsymmetrically towards substituents, and hence one lateral ring differs from the other; he represents the molecule as consisting of one centric ring, the remaining medial and lateral ring being ethenoid.
The nitro group behaves very similarly to the hydroxyl group. The effect of varying the position of the nitro group in the molecule is well marked, and conclusions may be drawn as to the orientation of the groups from a knowledge of the crystal form; a change in the symmetry of the chemical molecule being often attended by a loss in the symmetry of the crystal.
It behaves as a strong acid and on treatment with phosphorus pentachloride at high temperatures gives triazole.