There's a website out there that lets you create custom puzzles with normally impossible features. Don't ask me its URL, I don't remember.

@a genuine Milo Also, no need for anything like that. You can do the triplex bond in the game.

@hombeef you can make home-brew custom puzzle files just by following the specification which describes the internal structure of a .puzzle file. it's easiest if you write some code to do this for you, so you only have to feed your code the structure of the reagents/products. this method allows you to make illegal bonds and also reagents/products which are larger than you could make using the game's puzzle creator

@hombeef you can turn fire into salt after a triplex bond and it'll stay a triplex bond, not sure about the quicksilver though

There's actually an old computer game based on this puzzle concept: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo8dRY6Bkn0

Fixed it up, so here's the new cost version:
(60/19331/258)

Hi, I like this idea very much. I must admit, that I used computer to find optimal solution.
Here I created extended version (with 12 elements) https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1504304317 although it is bigger, it needs less 'moves' (in rubik's puzzle sense - lower number of cycles/ticks where atoms are moved in different directions).
12 elements are harder for computer (although it is still possible, the space of all states is nearly half billion and clever implementation needs no more than one byte per state), but It should be easier for human, because of more possibilities how to move the elements.

How did you triplex-bond the salt and quicksilver? i'm pretty sure they only work with fire atoms.

Well, by using GAP, a group theory algorithm and programming system, as the puzzle is only about permutation, which is a quite pure group theory problem. I don't know it well so I couldn't explain the detail.

I'm pretty curious about how did jjdishere actually proved any permutation could be solved. Any clue?

I was thinking, and it would be cool if you made something like this but using other glyphs like duplication and annusus

Honestly, just wow. and i love how you 'flip proofed' it with the salt and quicksilver

Wait, you're preforming permutation algorithims on an -essentially- chemical? HOW TF DO PEOPLE COME UP WITH THIS?!

I was happy with my 955/739/195 solution. Then I saw Shadowclusters solution...

This looks like an excellent way to induce heart attacks, holy crap.

@ShadowCluster Congratulations! The 75G solution is AMAZING! By the way, I wonder how did you find the rotation sequence? It is quite short.

Wow, that's possible. I haven't expected that. Great job!

This is so hard, I did it in 75G. https://imgur.com/VCCORtl
We talked about the theoretical minimum on a discord and came up with this. 2 arms, 3 tracks, a bonder and debonder. It features 15 different rotation sequences inbetween bonding and debonding.

OH MY GOD! It is just like a rubik's cube :D
Thats is the most interesting solution that I have ever seen!

Suggested layout added so you only needs to solve the part of the Rubik's Garden puzzle itself.