Trimellitic anhydride is a white solid in the form of flakes. It is readily hydrolysed in water to trimellitic acid, which is moderately soluble in water. Trimellitic anhydride is readily soluble in acetone, cyclohexanone, 2-butane, ethyl acetate, and dimethyl formamide (from 49.6 to 15.5% w/w at 25 °C).