Pure product is colorless transparent liquid, b.p.82℃, n20D 1.4040, relative density 1.019, f.p.67℉(19℃), industrial product is light yellow liquid, decomposed into formaldehyde and ethanol in contact with water and alkali, volatile, soluble in ethanol, acetone, xylene and other organic solvents.

Chloromethyl ether is an intermediate of acetochlor. Acetochlor is an excellent herbicide, widely used in corn, cotton, peanuts and soybeans before field germination.