Chemistry A-Level
Disproportionation
What Disproportionation means in Chemistry A-Level, as defined for Pearson Edexcel.
Definitions of Disproportionation
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
A redox reaction in which the same element is both oxidised and reduced simultaneously.
A redox reaction in which the same element is simultaneously oxidised and reduced.
Topics that use Disproportionation
- Topic 1: Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table (Pearson Edexcel A-Level)
- Topic 2: Bonding and Structure (Pearson Edexcel A-Level)
- Topic 3: Redox I (Pearson Edexcel A-Level)
Related terms
Using Disproportionation in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
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