有强刺激性气味。能溶于酮、二硫化碳、水和乙醇，同时分解，并放出大量热和溴化氢。化学性质活泼，有较强的腐蚀性，在空气中会不断挥发，易于空气中的氧气发生化学发生。

化学分析(测试糖和氧)，溴化剂，催化剂，有机合成。

Phosphorus tribromide may be used as a reagent:

· In a novel protocol for synthesizing 7-ethoxy-1-(p-ethylphenoxy)-3,7-dimethyl-2-octene, a synthetic juvenile hormone mimic of trans,trans,cis-10,11-epoxy-7-ethyl-3,11-dimethyltrideca-2,6-dienoate. 

· To synthesize 1,2,3-diazaphosphinane, 1,2,3-thiazaphosphinine and 1,2-azaphosphole bearing a chromone ring. 

· To synthesize 1-Bromoundec-1-ene from 10-undecen-1-ol.

Phosphorus tribromide (PBr3) is commonly used in Hell-Volhard-Zelinsky halogenation for the α-bromination of carboxylic acids to form the corresponding acyl bromide. It is also useful for the conversion of primary and secondary alcohols to alkyl bromides.

Phosphorus tribromide may be used as a reagent:

· In a novel protocol for synthesizing 7-ethoxy-1-(p-ethylphenoxy)-3,7-dimethyl-2-octene, a synthetic juvenile hormone mimic of trans,trans,cis-10,11-epoxy-7-ethyl-3,11-dimethyltrideca-2,6-dienoate. 

· To synthesize 1,2,3-diazaphosphinane, 1,2,3-thiazaphosphinine and 1,2-azaphosphole bearing a chromone ring. 

· To synthesize 1-Bromoundec-1-ene from 10-undecen-1-ol.