The oxidation number of an atom is a measure of the number of electrons that it has gained or lost in a chemical reaction. To determine the oxidation number of iodine in KIO3, we need to use the fact that the sum of the oxidation numbers of all the atoms in a compound is equal to the overall charge of the compound.
In KIO3, potassium (K) has an oxidation number of +1 because it belongs to the alkali metal group and it always has a +1 oxidation state. Oxygen (O) usually has an oxidation number of -2, unless it is combined with a more electronegative atom or a peroxide, which is not the case in KIO3.
Let's assume that iodine (I) has an oxidation number of x. Since KIO3 is a neutral compound, the sum of the oxidation numbers of all its atoms must be zero. Therefore, we can write the following equation:
(+1) + x + 3(-2) = 0
Simplifying the equation, we get:
x = +5
Therefore, the oxidation number of iodine in KIO3 is +5.