disproportionation

In chemistry, disproportionation refers to a specific type of oxidation-reduction reaction where a single substance is simultaneously oxidized and reduced, transforming into two or more dissimilar substances. This process involves a change in the oxidation number of the participating chemical species. For instance, an element in a particular oxidation state can react with itself to form products where the element exists in both a higher and a lower oxidation state. This is a fundamental concept within the broader study of redox reactions, which are common in many natural and chemical processes.12