Ethers are cleaved by acids and not by bases. Explain.

Explanation

The C-O-C bond in ethers like the C-OH bond in alcohols is quite strong. In order to weaken it, the oxyge atom must be protonated. A subsequent nucleophilic attack by a strong nucleophile such as `Br^(-)` or `I^(-)` ion on the less hindered carbon atom of the protonated `C-underset(H)underset(|)overset(+)(O)-C` bond brings about the cleavage of ethers to form an alcohol and an alkyl halide. for example.

On the other hand, bases cannot weaken the C-O-C bond because ethers themselves being Lewis bases are not attacked by strong bases such as `OH^(-)` or `H^(-)` (from `LiAlH_(4)`) ion. In other words, bases cannot cleave ethers.