What exactly is alumina- assuming it is Al2O3-(relative to a mixture- 20:80 of copper sulfate pentahydrate & Al2O3)?

Where would Al2O3 & CuSO4.5H20 be found? Either commercial, or residential uses.

Also, does anybody know what the greek symbol that looks similar to a miss-shaped "s" means?

Okay you are "all over the place" and we can't help you unless you expand your question a little.

Alumina is aluminum oxide. What this has to do with copper sulphate I have no idea.

How about you tell us what you are trying to do so we can actually help you. Trying to learn chemistry by asking partial questions in the hopes of keeping something secret will get you nowhere.

Greek letters are used all over the place for many different things, maybe you should find a picture(even if you have to upload it to a server and link it) and give us the context.

Im gonna assume you saw the symbol in an old chemistry text book I got more than one around with a similar symbol usually means "slightly soluble" if that makes sense in context but FIND THE TABLE FOR THE CHART or check the index or whatever if thats actually why you were wondering I could be completely off...

Sorry about my question jumping all over the place.....brain going gangbusters.

There is a reaction for oxidizing 1,4-Pentanediol with KMnO4/Al2O3/CuSO4.5H2O to yeild alpha-methyl-gamma-butyrolactone. KMnO4 is available in copious amounts, so I was curious as to the availability of (and where it can be found) the Al2O3, and CuSO4.5H2O.

The second question referencing the greek symbol is seen on a similar reaction using Tetrahydropyran to yeild "s"-Valerolactone. "s" being the symbol; I assume its used as the "y" shaped symbol for gamma, the "a" shaped symbol for alpha, etc.etc. Thanks for the help.

Well alumina can be difficult to find, however a well stocked pottery supply will have it, but it isn't cheap.

The blue vitriol(copper sulphate) can be obtained at the chemist (pharmacy) tell 'em you are copper plating something.

And the symbol you are looking for is the greek letter delta, in chemistry it refers to how many carbon atoms a constituent is removed from the number 1 carbon. Alpha is one away, beta is two away, gamma three, delta four, and epsilon five, you rarely hear any but gamma.

Doesn't the symbol of a triangle also mean delta? Appreciate the chemical feed back, do you happen to know of a less expensive reaction that utilizes KMnO4 to yeild a product like gamma-butyrolactone; alpha-methyl-gamma-butyrolactone; or delta-Valerolactone?