Ethers have very low solubility in water but high solubility in concentrated sulphuric acid. Why?

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Solution

Dear Student,
ethers are insoluble in water because the hydrophobic R groups repel and prevent the formation of hydrogen bonding .while ethers react with Sulphuric acid and undergo cleavage to form alcohol .The alcohols are more polar compared to ether hence it becomes soluble in sulphuric acid
$R - O - R + H_{2} S O_{4} \to R - O H + R - O H$

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