Consider the change in oxidation state of Bromine corresponding to different emf values as shown in the diagram below. Then the species undergoing disproportionation is:
For a species to undergo disproportionation, the standard reduction potential of the reaction to its right (reduction) must be greater than the standard reduction potential of the reaction to its left (from which it was formed by reduction). In other words, . Based on standard Latimer diagram values for bromine in acidic medium, the reduction potential of to is , which is greater than the reduction potential of to (). Therefore, is thermodynamically unstable and spontaneously disproportionates into and .
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