Explain the fact that in alkyl aryl ethers, alkoxy group :
(i) activates the benzene ring towards electrons subsitution.
(ii) directs the incoming substitudents word ortho and para positions in the ring.

Explanation

(i) The alkoxy group `(Runderset(* *) overset(* *)O-)` with lone electron pains on the oxygen atom activates the ortho and para positions in the ring by +M(or+R) effect as shown below:

As the ortho group directs the incoming in the ring become paints of high electron density, the electrophiles prefer to attack these positions.
(ii) The alkoxy group directs the incoming group which is an electrophile towards the ortho and para positions in the ring. As a result , a mixture of osomeric products is formed. For details. consult section 24