Methyl nitrate, CH₃NO₃, is used as a rocket propellant. The skeletal structure of the molecule is CH₃ONO₂. The N and three O atoms all lie in the same plane, but the CH₃ group is not in the same plane as the NO₃ group. The bond angle C—O—N is 105°, and the bond angle O—N—O is 125°. One nitrogen-to-oxygen bond length is 136 pm, and the other two are 126 pm.

(a) Draw a sketch of the molecule showing its geometric shape.

(b) Label all the bonds in the molecule as σ or π and indicate the probable orbital overlaps involved.

(c) Explain why all three nitrogen-to-oxygen bond lengths are not the same.