What is a reason why ethers have low water solubility?

they have symmetrical r groups.

they contain the functional group hydroxyl.

they have a strong carbon–oxygen double bond.

they cannot form hydrogen bonds among themselves

They cannot form hydrogen bonds among themselves

Explanation:

The major difference between the alcohols and ethers is the presence of the the hydroxyl group in alcohols which is absent in ethers. The hydroxyl group makes the alcohols able to form hydrogen bonds with each other and with water. This enables the alcohols to dissolve in water.

On the other hand, ethers lack the hydroxyl group so they cannot form hydrogen bonds with each other and with water hence they are often not soluble in water.

explanation:

metals have excess of electrons whereas non-metals have deficiency of electrons. thus, in order to gain stability metals easily donate their electrons to the non-metals.

for example, electronic configuration of sodium is and electronic configuration of phosphorous is .

when a phosphorous atom and sodium atom combine together then sodium will donate is extra one electron to the phosphorous atom. as a result there will be formation of ionic bond between sodium and phosphorous.

the reaction will be as follows.

there, are three sodium sodium atoms and each of them will donate its one extra electron to phosphorous atom. thus, the sub-shell of phosphorous gets completely filled.  

thus, we can conclude that electrons are transferred from atoms of sodium to atoms of phosphorous. this transfer makes the sodium atoms donate one electron and the phosphorous atoms to gain one electron. as a result, the sodium and phosphorus atoms strongly attract each other.