What are the oxidation states of phosphorous in the following :
`H_(3)PO_(4)`

Answer

To find the oxidation state of phosphorus in the compound H₃PO₄ (orthophosphoric acid), we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the oxidation states of other elements in the compound**:
- Hydrogen (H) typically has an oxidation state of +1.
- Oxygen (O) typically has an oxidation state of -2.

2. **Count the number of each type of atom in the compound**:
- In H₃PO₄, there are:
- 3 hydrogen atoms
- 4 oxygen atoms
- 1 phosphorus atom

3. **Set up the equation based on the overall charge of the compound**:
- Since H₃PO₄ is a neutral compound, the sum of the oxidation states must equal zero.
- Let the oxidation state of phosphorus (P) be represented as \( x \).

4. **Write the equation for the sum of oxidation states**:
- The contribution from hydrogen is: \( 3 \times (+1) = +3 \)
- The contribution from oxygen is: \( 4 \times (-2) = -8 \)
- Therefore, the equation can be set up as:
\[ +3 + x - 8 = 0 \]

5. **Solve the equation for \( x \)**:
- Rearranging the equation gives:
\[ x - 5 = 0 \]
- Thus, solving for \( x \):
\[ x = +5 \]

6. **Conclusion**:
- The oxidation state of phosphorus in H₃PO₄ is +5.

### Final Answer:
The oxidation state of phosphorus in H₃PO₄ is +5.

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