Question

Difference between disproportion and comproportion reactions​

Answer 1

Disproportionation reactions involve a molecule being both oxidized and reduced simultaneously, while comproportionation reactions involve two different species reacting to form a single product with an intermediate oxidation state.

For example, the reaction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) with potassium permanganate (KMnO4) is a disproportionation reaction, which can be represented as:

2 KMnO4 + 5 H2O2 + 3 H2SO4 → K2SO4 + 2 MnSO4 + 8 H2O + 5 O2

For example, the reaction of sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3) with iodine (I2) is a comproportionation reaction, which can be represented as:

2 Na2S2O3 + I2 → Na2S4O6 + 2 NaI