Ethers on hydrolysis give

Options

A. Methanol
B. Ethanol
C. Propan-1-ol
D. Butan-1-ol

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Structure of Ethers**:
Ethers are generally represented by the formula ROR', where R and R' can be the same or different alkyl groups.

**Hint**: Remember that ethers consist of an oxygen atom bonded to two alkyl or aryl groups.

2. **Understanding Hydrolysis**:
Hydrolysis of ethers involves the reaction of the ether with water (H2O) in the presence of an acid (often represented as H+).

**Hint**: Hydrolysis means breaking down a compound by reacting it with water.

3. **Reaction Mechanism**:
When ether undergoes hydrolysis, the oxygen atom in the ether donates a lone pair of electrons to the hydrogen ion (H+), forming a positively charged intermediate.

**Hint**: Look for the transfer of electrons and the formation of charged species during the reaction.

4. **Bond Cleavage**:
The positively charged oxygen atom increases its electronegativity, leading to the cleavage of the ether bond. The bond can break either between R-O or R'-O depending on which carbon cation formed is more stable.

**Hint**: Stability of the resulting carbocation plays a crucial role in determining which bond will break.

5. **Formation of Alcohols**:
After the bond cleavage, one part of the ether (R-OH) becomes an alcohol, and the other part (R') becomes a positively charged species (R'+). The hydroxide ion (OH-) from the dissociation of water then attacks the positively charged carbon to form another alcohol (R'-OH).

**Hint**: Keep track of the products formed from the cleavage and the subsequent attack by hydroxide ions.

6. **Final Products**:
The final products of the hydrolysis of an ether are two molecules of alcohol. Depending on the structure of the ether, these alcohols can be the same or different.

**Hint**: The type of alcohols produced will depend on the specific R and R' groups in the ether.

### Conclusion:
When ethers undergo hydrolysis, they yield two molecules of alcohol. The specific alcohols formed depend on the alkyl groups attached to the ether.