Disproportionation Definition in Chemistry

Disproportionation is a chemical reaction, typically a redox reaction, where a molecule is transformed into two or more dissimilar products. In a redox reaction, the species is simultaneously oxidized and reduced to form at least two different products.

Disproportionation reactions follow the form:

• 2A → A' + A"

where A, A', and A" are all different chemical species.
The reverse reaction of disproportionation is called comproportionation.

Examples

Hydrogen peroxide converting into water and oxygen is a disproportionation reaction.

• 2 H₂O₂ → H₂O + O₂

_Water dissociating into H₃O⁺ and OH^- is an example of a disproportionation reaction that is not a redox reaction.