Three vignettes on chemical synthesis comprise this talk. The first, related to Molecular Biology, describes the development of proteins that control the elemental composition, size and shape of inorganic nanoparticles are synthesized by these genetically engineered proteins. Because protein sequence is defined by DNA sequence and DNA is cloned during replication, these nanoparticles are termed ‘clonable nanoparticles’ or genetically encodable nanoparticles. The second vignette examines the questions about gold nanoparticles that become addressable upon synthesis of metal nanoparticles as molecules. The molecularly rich surfaces of gold nanoparticles come into focus when understood in molecular terms. Phenomena such as ligand exchange and isomorphism can then be mechanistically understood. The final vignette reveals a novel molecular material. The synthesis of this material, dubbed an ‘Amorphous Metal Complex’ was discovered during the investigation of solvent conditions in the synthesis of gold clusters. The material exhibits several properties not previously described in materials chemistry, as a structurally strong supramolecular material.