Final answer:
A reducing agent such as lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4) can be used to reduce an ether to an alcohol. Using this reaction, diethyl ether can be reduced to ethanol.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order to reduce an ether to an alcohol, a reducing agent can be used. One common reducing agent for this reaction is lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4). LiAlH4 reacts with the ether to produce an intermediate alkoxide, which then undergoes hydrolysis to yield the corresponding alcohol.
For example, when diethyl ether (CH3CH2OCH2CH3) is treated with LiAlH4, it is reduced to ethanol (CH3CH2OH).