What are the oxidation states of phosphorous in the following:
`HPO_3` ​

Answer

To determine the oxidation state of phosphorus in the compound HPO₃ (metaphosphoric acid), we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Elements and Their Known Oxidation States**:
- In HPO₃, we have three elements: Hydrogen (H), Phosphorus (P), and Oxygen (O).
- The oxidation state of hydrogen (H) is typically +1.
- The oxidation state of oxygen (O) is typically -2.

2. **Set Up the Equation**:
- Let the oxidation state of phosphorus (P) be represented by the variable \( x \).
- The compound HPO₃ is neutral, which means the sum of the oxidation states must equal zero.

3. **Write the Oxidation State Equation**:
- The equation can be set up as follows:
\[ \text{(Oxidation state of H)} + \text{(Oxidation state of P)} + \text{(Oxidation state of O)} = 0 \]
- Substituting the known values:
\[ (+1) + x + 3(-2) = 0 \]

4. **Simplify the Equation**:
- Calculate the contribution from the oxygen atoms:
\[ (+1) + x - 6 = 0 \]
- This simplifies to:
\[ x - 5 = 0 \]

5. **Solve for \( x \)**:
- Rearranging the equation gives:
\[ x = +5 \]

6. **Conclusion**:
- The oxidation state of phosphorus in HPO₃ is +5.

### Final Answer:
The oxidation state of phosphorus in HPO₃ is +5.