Final answer:
The oxidation state of bismuth in NaBiO₃ is +5, as sodium contributes +1 and oxygen contributes a total of -6, balancing the compound's charge to zero.
Step-by-step explanation:
The oxidation state of bismuth in NaBiO₃ can be determined by looking at the overall charge of the compound and the known oxidation states of the other elements. Sodium (Na) has an oxidation number of +1. Oxygen (O) typically has an oxidation number of -2. Since there are three oxygen atoms, their total contribution to the charge is -6. The compound is neutral overall, so the oxidation states must sum to zero. If sodium contributes +1 and oxygen contributes -6, bismuth (Bi) must have an oxidation state that balances this to reach zero. The calculation would be +1 (for Na) + (oxidation state of Bi) - 6 (for 3 O's) = 0. Solving for the oxidation state of Bi gives us +5. Therefore, the oxidation state of bismuth in NaBiO₃ is +5.