Ok just completed the quest. As a chemist in real life, I had a ton of fun exploring the lab. I did the correct combination for the quest and received the piezoelectric power armor chest.

Has anyone tried any other combinations of the chemicals? Do you get different upgrade results? I was also assuming you could also maybe use the chems to break the wall or whatever the optional path was.

I tried running the experiment again with other chemicals but no more PA was loaded into the machine so no result. I would have liked to been giving the option to get random upgrades for power armor in this way, kinda like the forge beneath the mages guild in skyrim

I saw from an earlier post that no other combinations were possible. I didn't try it myself though. The alternative path was by activating the security system on the computer with the password, which would then open up the doors and allow you to escape. You would have to fight your way out though.