Final answer:
In acidic cleavage of ethers, the C-O bond is intact and an H added to form OH when the carbon is sp³ hybridized, which has a lone pair that allows new bond formation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of acidic cleavage of ethers, the C-O bond is not cleaved and only an H is added (forming an OH group) when the carbon atom connected to the oxygen is sp³ hybridized. This occurs because a sp³ hybridized carbon has three sigma bonds and a fourth sp³ orbital which is occupied by a lone pair, allowing it to form a new bond by donating this lone pair. In contrast, sp² hybridized carbons, as seen in alkenes (e.g., ethene with the formula H₂C=CH₂), engage in pi bonding and have trigonal planar geometry that often leads to different chemical behavior, such as the formation of aldehydes or ketones from alcohols, depending on the number of carbons attached.