  Chemists now routinely use software as part of their work. For example,
virtual chemistry allows chemical reactions to be simulated. In particular, a
selection of software is available for the visualisation of complex
3-dimensional molecular structures. Many of these are very beautiful in their
own right. As well as being included as illustrations in academic papers, such
visualisations are often used on the covers of chemistry journals as
artistically decorative and attractive motifs. Chemical images have also been
used as the basis of artworks in exhibitions. This paper explores the
development of the relationship of chemistry, art, and IT. It covers some of
the increasingly sophisticated software used to generate these projections
(e.g., UCSF Chimera) and their progressive use as a visual art form.
