TL;DR
- The correct chemical agents are Chloroacetyl Chloride, Ammonia, and Dimethyl Sulfate.
- The cabinet code is 168 — enter this to synthesize the sedative.
- You are making Diazepam (a real-world sedative also known as Valium) for Anders to use on Williams.
- The clue is on the Diazepam Synthesis display — it shows molecular diagrams, not chemical names.
- You match those diagrams to the wall posters around the lab to find the names.
- Then match those names to numbers in the storage cabinet to get the three-digit code.
- This puzzle is only available if Cooper’s personality leans Playful — Professional Coopers skip it.
What Is the Chemical Agents Puzzle in Directive 8020?
In Episode 5: Mr. Williams, the ship’s medical officer Samantha Cooper is approached by Dr. Anders, who asks for help making a sedative. She is vague about why she needs it, but the plan is to use it on LaMarcus Williams, who the crew is beginning to distrust. If Cooper has been played with a mostly Playful personality throughout the game, she agrees. This unlocks her The Rogue destiny path. If her personality leans Professional, she refuses, and you skip this puzzle entirely.
For those who do get the puzzle, you are tasked with going back into the room containing Williams and synthesizing the sedative yourself. Cooper needs to identify the correct three chemicals out of a full cabinet, and the game gives you a molecular diagram rather than a plain list of chemical names. This is where most players get stuck.
The drug you are making is Diazepam — better known by its brand name Valium. It is a real sedative used in medicine, and Supermassive Games based the puzzle on its actual chemical synthesis components. If chemistry was never your strong point, do not worry. The guide below walks through every step.
For a complete look at all the puzzles and codes across the game, see our Directive 8020 All Secrets Guide.
Does Your Playthrough Affect This Puzzle?
Yes. The chemical agents puzzle only appears if Cooper has accumulated enough Playful trait points throughout the game. These are earned by choosing joke-related or lighthearted dialogue options in conversations as Cooper during Episodes 1 through 5.
If Cooper is more Professional, she refuses to help Anders during the Suspicions scene, unlocks The Medic destiny instead, and the puzzle never appears. Williams is also not sedated, which has consequences later in Episode 6 when Stafford confronts him.
If you are specifically trying to sedate Williams for the best outcome in Episode 6, you need to have been choosing the Joke or playful dialogue options as Cooper across the story. It is worth keeping this in mind for future playthroughs.
Step-by-Step: How to Solve the Chemical Agents Puzzle
Step 1 – Interact With the Synthesizer Console
When you take control of Cooper during the Drugs section of Episode 5, face the wall ahead of you. On the left side of the wall is a console — the Synthesizer. Interact with it.
The Synthesizer shows you the Diazepam Synthesis display. This screen reveals three chemical molecular diagrams — the structural formulas of the three chemicals Cooper needs to combine. The game does not tell you the names of these chemicals. It only shows you their molecular structures. Take a screenshot or memorize what the three diagrams look like before moving on.
Step 2 – Check the Wall Posters Around the Lab
Now look around the room. On the walls, there are several display boards and posters, each showing a chemical name alongside its molecular structure diagram. Your job is to find the three posters whose molecular diagrams match the three shown on the Diazepam Synthesis display.
The three chemicals you are looking for are:
- Chloroacetyl Chloride
- Ammonia
- Dimethyl Sulfate
When you find each matching poster, it confirms the chemical name. You now know the three ingredients. Keep these names in mind as you head to the storage cabinet.
Step 3 – Go to the Storage Cabinet and Check the Numbers
Head to the storage cabinet in the room and interact with it. Inside, each chemical in the cabinet is assigned a number. Interact with the cabinet and press the read button (Square on PlayStation, X on Xbox, or the equivalent key on PC) to zoom in and read the numbers clearly.
The numbers assigned to the three chemicals you need are:
- Chloroacetyl Chloride = 1
- Ammonia = 6
- Dimethyl Sulfate = 8
The order of the code follows the order the chemicals are listed on the Diazepam Synthesis display — Chloroacetyl Chloride first, Ammonia second, Dimethyl Sulfate third. That gives you the three-digit code: 168.
Step 4 – Enter the Code 168
Use your Utility Strap to open the storage cabinet, then interact with it again to bring up the keycode input screen. Enter 168. The chemicals are automatically combined and you produce the Diazepam sedative. The puzzle is complete.
The Chemical Agents Code Is 168 — Quick Answer
If you just need the answer without going through the full process:
- The three correct chemicals are Chloroacetyl Chloride, Ammonia, and Dimethyl Sulfate.
- Enter code 168 into the cabinet to synthesize the sedative.
That is all you need to complete this puzzle and move forward in Episode 5.
What Happens After You Make the Sedative?
Once you have the Diazepam, head back to Anders in the Storage Room and give it to her. A conversation follows where Cooper has three sets of dialogue choices:
- First choice: Consider or Doubt — choose Consider.
- Second choice: Approve or Disapprove — choose Approve.
- Third choice: Question or Implore — choose Question.
These choices do not change whether the sedation happens, but they affect Cooper’s relationship with Anders and her destiny development. After the conversation, leave the room and talk to Anders again to trigger the scene where Williams is sedated.
Later in Episode 6, when Stafford confronts Williams, a biometric scan reveals sedatives in his system. This is actually what proves Williams is human and not an alien mimic — the presence of the Diazepam Cooper made. It is a critical data point that helps protect Williams and keeps the crew from making a fatal mistake. If you chose Stand Down at that moment instead of shooting him, the sedative evidence is part of why that decision holds up.
Want to know how these choices connect to the bigger survival picture? Our guide on how to save or lose characters in Directive 8020 covers the full chain of consequences across episodes.
Collectibles to Grab Before You Leave the Room
The lab area during this section contains several secrets. Before you go back to Anders and trigger the next cutscene, make sure you grab these:
- There is a video screen in the far corner of Anders’ room that you can activate with your Utility Strap — interact with it before you leave to collect a secret.
- Check around the room with Williams for any additional datapads you might have missed.
- Later in this episode, before you take the elevator, divert power using the wall switch to enter the left room and grab the Hostile Fire Simms Recording on the wall.
Once you trigger the handoff to Anders, the section moves forward quickly. Do your exploring first.
For the full list of recordings, visit our All Simms’ Recordings guide. And if you are after the O Death collectibles in this episode too, our All Curator Secrets guide shows exactly where to find them in Episode 5.
Why Is This Puzzle Easy to Miss?
The puzzle trips people up for two reasons. First, the Synthesizer shows molecular diagrams, not names. If you interact with it and do not look carefully at each diagram, you may not realise you need to cross-reference them with the wall posters. Many players interact with the Synthesizer once and then stand in front of the cabinet confused, without going back to look at the posters first.
Second, the cabinet is not obvious. The storage cabinet is in the same room as Williams, not in Anders’ room. And you need to use your Utility Strap to open it before the number input screen appears. If you try to interact with the cabinet without using the Utility Strap first, nothing happens.
Going through each step in order — Synthesizer → Wall Posters → Cabinet Numbers → Enter Code — keeps it straightforward.
If you are also working through the Anomaly Log Number puzzle in this same episode, our Directive 8020 Anomaly Log Number guide has the answer and the full location of the clue.
Where to Buy Directive 8020
Directive 8020 is available now on PlayStation Store, Xbox, and Steam. For PC players, check out our best PC settings guide to keep the game running smoothly throughout all eight episodes. More details on the game can be found on the official Dark Pictures website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the correct chemical agents in Directive 8020 Episode 5?
The three correct chemicals are Chloroacetyl Chloride, Ammonia, and Dimethyl Sulfate. These are the three ingredients used to synthesize Diazepam, the sedative Anders needs for her plan with Williams.
What is the chemical cabinet code in Directive 8020 Episode 5?
The cabinet code is 168. This comes from the numbers assigned to each of the three correct chemicals in the storage cabinet — Chloroacetyl Chloride is 1, Ammonia is 6, and Dimethyl Sulfate is 8.
What does Cooper make in the chemical agents puzzle in Directive 8020?
Cooper synthesizes Diazepam, a real-world sedative commonly known as Valium. Anders uses it to drug Williams, and the presence of Diazepam in his system later becomes key evidence in Episode 6 that proves he is human and not an alien mimic.
Can you skip the chemical agents puzzle in Directive 8020?
Yes. The puzzle only appears if Cooper’s personality has enough Playful points built up through previous dialogue choices. If Cooper has been played as more Professional, she refuses to help Anders, and the sedation never happens. You unlock a different destiny path called The Medic instead, and the puzzle is skipped entirely.
