[anna]

These are 2 conversions I've been racking my brains to solve...

nb. THE IMPORTANT THING HOWEVER IS THAT YOU CAN'T USE                    ANOTHER ORGANIC MATERIAL IN THE CONVERSION.
you can use MINERAL REAGENTS ONLY.

ok, so:
How do you convert:

ethanol to propan-1-ol
propan-1-ol into hexane

pls answer asap and thx!

[Winga]

Let me try!
(Just provide the major reagents.)

ethanol ---> propan-1-ol
1. ethanol --- PBr3 ---> bromoethane
2. bromoethane --- KCN ---> propanenitrile
3. propanenitrile --- H3O+ ---> propanoic acid
4. propanoic acid --- LiAlH4 ---> propan-1-ol

propan-1-ol ---> hexane
1. propan-1-ol --- PBr3 ---> 1-bromopropane
2. 2 x 1-bromopropane + 2 Na ---> hexane // Wurtz Reaction

Wurtz Reaction:
http://www.organic-chemistry.org/namedreactions/wurtz-reaction.shtm

Wurtz-Fittig Reaction:
http://www.organic-chemistry.org/namedreactions/wurtz-fittig-reaction.shtm