Directive 8020 Guide: How to Find the Correct Chemical Agents
Crack the Episode 5 chemistry puzzle and grab the exact cabinet code in seconds.
Quick Answer: The chemical code required to open the cabinet in Episode 5 is 168. You find this by matching the molecular diagrams on the Diazepam Synthesis display to Chloroacetyl Chloride (1), Ammonia (6), and Dimethyl Sulfate (8).
Solving the Episode 5 Chemistry Puzzle
Supermassive Games decided to test your scientific literacy in Episode 5. While playing as Cooper, you’ll find yourself tasked with synthesizing a sedative for Mr. Williams. This isn’t just a simple “find the key” situation; it requires you to play chemist by matching molecular structures to their corresponding names and numbers.
The puzzle takes place in a single room, but it’s easy to get turned around if you aren’t sure what you’re looking at. The goal is to identify three specific agents from a list of several possibilities scattered around the laboratory.
If you’re currently hunting down every collectible in this chapter to ensure you don’t have to backtrack later, make sure you check out our guide on finding the Anomaly Log number in Episode 5 to clear out that section of your logbook as well.
Identifying the Three Chemicals
The first step is to walk up to the main Diazepam Synthesis display. You will see three distinct molecular diagrams. If you aren’t a chemistry major, these probably look like a bunch of random hexagons and lines. You don’t actually need to understand the science, but you do need to remember what those shapes look like.
Take a quick look around the other display boards in the room. Each one acts as a legend, giving a name to the diagrams you just saw. By cross-referencing the main display with these auxiliary boards, you can identify the three ingredients needed for the sedative.
The three chemicals you need to find are:
- Chloroacetyl Chloride
- Ammonia
- Dimethyl Sulfate
Finding the Storage Cabinet Code
Once you have the names, turn your attention to the storage cabinet nearby. This unit contains several canisters, each assigned a specific number. You can interact with the canisters to get a closer look at the labels, which makes reading the digits much easier.
By matching the names you found earlier to the numbers on the canisters, you will generate your three-digit code.
| Chemical Agent Name | Assigned Number |
| Chloroacetyl Chloride | 1 |
| Ammonia | 6 |
| Dimethyl Sulfate | 8 |
Entering the Final Code
Now that you have the sequence 168, interact with the cabinet’s input panel and enter the digits. This will combine the agents and allow Cooper to obtain the necessary drugs to progress the story.
One final tip: don’t rush out of the room immediately after grabbing the sedative. Episode 5 is dense with hidden lore, and moving forward too quickly might lock you out of a few Secrets that are tucked away in the corners of the lab.
