User blog comment:Alexioan/Battle Alchemy Equipment/@comment-7445410-20130605015653/@comment-5049048-20130605065925

In this case, it appears that the creator has gone away from the original 'true' alchemist idea. (Considering alchemists were pimarily old crooks who sought to make gold)

I have heard of people using alchemy spells in combat, so as to turn their opponents' gear into gold (hooray?), but that seems not to be the idea here.

From what I read, this outfit is made for a character with closer knowledge of chemical reactions, biological weapons etc, hence the naphta barrel, gass mask and chemicals.

Yes, one can do an amazingly big amount of damage with 'alchemy', or as it is represented here, chemistry (The two intertwine very closely).