How to Cite in ACS Citation - Manual for the Chemical Society

The ACS citation style is developed by the American Chemical Society and presents the guidelines to cite and format the publications and papers of chemistry. Like other citation styles, the ACS style is also different from other styles in terms of standards and guidelines.

Following these guidelines, the writer could style his papers as per the given and accepted standards and guidelines. These guidelines are different from each citation. This ACS style guide helps you understand the basics and working of this distinct citation style.

To have the complete details of the ACS citation guidelines, please refer to the below blog.

What is the ACS Citation Format?.

ACS is the American Chemical Society’s citation style. It is developed by researchers in the chemical field. The chemical field is different from other fields and this is why the chemical researchers have developed a different citation style.

They use it to format their papers, articles, journals, and other publications. Styles like this, APSA, NLM, and IEEE are used by specific fields and are not as widely used as some others.

If you are a student of chemistry then knowing about these guidelines and instructions is necessary for you.

How to Create ACS Citation References?

ACS format citation and references are different from other kinds of citations. Unlike the styles that either use the author's last name and year of publication or superscript number, the ACS style uses both of them. They also use a third style that adds the number in italics in the parenthesis. The student could use any of the styles to form his citations and add them to his paper.

The citation and reference format are different for the papers, journals, books, and print and online sources. When making the citation and references for these sources, follow the defined format, given by the said citation style.

ACS In-Text Citation

As mentioned earlier, in ACS citation formatting, the students are allowed to add the in-text citations in three ways. These include adding the last name of the author and year of publication in the parenthesis, adding the superscript number, or adding the italicized numbers in the parenthesis. In either way, the in-text format is acceptable.

For Example:

The superscript method: Oscillation in the reaction of benzaldehyde with oxygen was reported previously.³

The synthesis described by Fraser3 takes advantage of carbohydrate topology.

The italic numbers added in parenthesis: ‘Fluoridated water, as well as various fluoride products such as toothpaste, provide fluoride ions necessary for remineralization (1).’

‘Rakita (1) states that fluoridated water, as well as various fluoride products such as toothpaste, provide fluoride ions necessary for remineralization.’

The author’s surname and date of publication: ‘‘Fluoridated water, as well as various fluoride products such as toothpaste, provide fluoride ions necessary for remineralization (Rakita, 2004).’

‘Rakita states that fluoridated water, as well as various fluoride products such as toothpaste, provide fluoride ions necessary for remineralization (2004).’

ACS Citation Referencing for Different Sources

ACS style citation and reference style is different for different sources like books, periodicals, journals, and articles for publications. It is a well-defined and structured system that guides and helps the students and researchers to structure their papers.

It also helps in structuring the papers and publications properly and increasing the chances of acceptance.

To know how to format the references for different sources, please move to the below sections.

For Books: Author 1; Author 2; etc. Title of Book, Edition Number; Publisher: Location, Year; Volume number, pp Pages Used.

Le Couteur, P.; Burreson, J. Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History; Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam: New York, 2003; pp 32-47.

For eBooks: Author 1; Author 2; Author 3; etc. Book Title [Online]; Series Information (if applicable); Publisher: Place of Publication, Year; Volume Number (if applicable), Pagination. URL (accessed Month Day, Year).

Lo, K. K. Luminescent and Photoactive Transition Metal Complexes as Biomolecular Probes and Cellular Reagents [Online]; Springer: Berlin, 2015. https://librarysearch.williams.edu/permalink/f/s1eqoc/01WIL_ALMA51121331050002786 (accessed Jan 19, 2020).

For a Chapter in a Book: Author 1; Author 2; etc. Title of Chapter. In Title of Book, Edition Number; Series Information; Publisher: Location, Year; Volume number, pp Pages Used.

Balint-Kurti, G. G. Wavepacket Theory of Photodissociation and Reactive Scattering. In Advances in Chemical Physics; Rice, S. A., Ed.; Wiley: New York, 2004; Vol. 128; p 257.

For Edited Books: Author 1; Author 2; etc. Chapter Title, In Book Title, Edition Number; Editor 1, Editor 2, etc., Eds.; Series Information (if any); Publisher: Location, Year; Volume Number, pp Pages Used.

Holbrey, J. D.; Chen, J.; Turner, M. B.; Swatloski, R. P.; Spear, S. K.; Rogers, R. D. Applying Ionic Liquids for Controlled Processing of Polymer Materials. In Ionic Liquids in Polymer Systems: Solvents, Additives, and Novel Applications; Brazel, C. S., Rogers R. D., Eds.; ACS Symposium Series 913; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2005; pp 71-88.

For Books in Series or with Multiple Editions: Author 1; Author 2; etc. Title of Chapter. In Title of Book, Edition Number; Series Information; Publisher: Location, Year; Volume number, pp Pages Used.

Goh, S. L. Polymer Chemistry in an Undergraduate Curriculum. In Introduction of Macromolecular Science/Polymeric Materials into the Foundational Course in Organic Chemistry; ACS Symposium Series 1151; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2013; pp 113-127.

ACS Citation for Multiple Authors: When there are more than two authors, add ‘et al’ after the first two authors.

Richards et al. (14)

For Articles in Print Journal: Author 1; Author 2; Author 3; etc. Title of Article. Journal Abbreviation Year, Volume, Inclusive Pagination.

Author 1; Author 2; Author 3; etc. Journal Abbreviation Year, Volume, Inclusive Pagination.

For an Article in an Electronic Journal: Author 1; Author 2; Author 3; etc. Title of Article. Journal Abbreviation [Online] Year, Issue, Inclusive Pagination. Complete URL (accessed Date).

Author 1; Author 2; Author 3; etc. Title of Article. Journal Abbreviation [Online], Date, Inclusive Pagination. Database Name. Complete URL of the database (accessed Date).

In case the journal is available in both print and electronic versions, cite the electronic form. If it has not been published in the print form yet then use the below format to cite it.

Author 1; Author 2; Author 3; etc. Title of Article. Journal Abbreviation [Online early access]. DOI. Published Online: Date. Complete URL (accessed Date).

Peacock-Lopez, E. Exact Solutions of the Quantum Double Square-Well Potential.

Chem. Ed. [Online] 2007, 11, 383-393. http://chemeducator.org/bibs/0011006/11060383ep.htm (accessed Dec 6, 2018).

Chung, J.M. and Peacock-Lopez, E. Cross-diffusion in the Template model of chemical self-replication. Phys. Lett. A [Online early access]. DOI:10.1016/j.physleta.2007.04.114. Published Online: June 12, 2007. http://www.sciencedirect.com (accessed Aug 23, 2007).

For Articles in a Magazine or Newspaper: Author 1; Author 2; Author 3; etc. Title of Article. Title of Periodical, Complete Date, Pagination.

Manning, R. Super Organics. Wired, May 2004, pp 176-181.

ACS Citation Lab Manual:

Bird, P. Chemistry 206 Laboratory Manual; Concordia University: Montreal, QC, 2010; p 21.

For Print Reference Works: Article Title. Title of Reference Work, Edition Information; Publisher: Location, Year; Volume, pp Pagination.

Powder Metallurgy. Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd ed.; Wiley: New York, 1982; Vol. 19, pp 28-62.

For Online Reference Works: Article Title. Title of Work, edition [Online]; Publisher, Posted Online Posting Date. URL (accessed Month Day, Year).

Alkanolamines from Nitro Alcohols. Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology [Online]; Wiley & Sons, Posted March 14, 2003. http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/kirk/articles/alkaboll.a01/frame.html (accessed Nov 7, 2004).

For the Theses: Author. Title of Thesis. Level of Thesis, Degree-Granting University, Location of University, Date of Completion.

Thoman, J. W., Jr. Studies of Molecular Deactivation: Surface-Active Free Radicals and S(O)para-difluorobenzene. PhD Dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 1987.

For the Patents: Patent Owner 1; Patent Owner 2; etc. Title of Patent. Patent Number, Full Date.

Diamond, G.; Murphy, V.; Leclerc, M.; Goh, C.; Hall, K.; LaPointe, A. M.; Boussie, T.; Lund, C. Coordination catalysts. US 20020002257 A1, January 3, 2002.

For Meetings and Conferences: When making the full citation for one of the said sources, follow the below format:

Author 1; Author 2; Author 3; etc. Title of Presentation. In Title of the Collected Work, Proceedings of the Name of the Meeting, Location, Full Date(s); Editor 1, Editor 2, etc., Eds.; Publisher: Place of Publication, Year; Abstract Number, Pagination.

Weinstein, S. In University Chemical Education, Proceedings of the International Symposium on University Chemical Education, Frascati (Rome), Italy, October 16-19, 1969; Chisman, D. G.. Ed.; Butterworths: London, 1970.

Sometimes the student just wants to cite the abstract of the meeting or the conference. When doing this, follow the below format:

Author 1; Author 2; Author 3; etc. Title of Presentation. Title of the Collected Work, Proceedings of the Name of the Meeting, Location, Full Date(s); Publisher: Place of Publication, Year; Abstract Number, Pagination.

Kaplan, L.J.; Selder, A. Books of Abstracts, 213th ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, April 13-17, 1997; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1997; CHED-824.

For Bulletins and Technical Reports: Author 1; Author 2; etc. Title of Report or Bulletin; Technical Report or Bulletin Number; Publisher: Location, Date; Pagination.

Crampton, S.B.; McAllaster, D. R. Collision and Motional Averaging Effects in Cryogenic Atomic Hydrogen Masers; WMC-AFOSR-002; NTIS: Springfield, VA, 1983.

For ACS Website Citation: Author, X (if any). Title of Site. URL (accessed Month Day, Year), other identifying information (if any).

International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry Home Page. http://www.iupac.org/dhtml_home.html (accessed April 24, 2005).

For a Document Published on an Agency’s Database: Author 1; Author 2; etc. Title of Document, Year. Title of Site. URL (accessed Month Day, Year).

Adrian, B.; Dooley, O.; Huang, C.; Levkowitz, M. Tackling Bed Bugs: A Starter Guide for Local Government, 2016. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Website. http://npic.orst.edu/pest/bedbug/tacklingbbstarterguide.pdf (accessed Nov 19, 2010).

For Computer Programs: Author 1; Author 2; etc. Program Title, version or edition; Publisher: Location, Year.

Binkley, J. S. GAUSSIAN82, version 1982; Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University: Pittsburgh, PA, 1982.

SciFinder Scholar, version 2007; Chemical Abstracts Service: Columbus, OH, 2007; RN 58-08-2 (accessed Aug 23, 2007).

ACS Style Example Paper

A sample or example paper is helpful in providing the needed help to the students. These papers are useful in studying and understanding how to format and style your ACS paper accordingly. Find a sample paper attached below.

ACS Style Final Report Paper

Why Should Students Avoid Using an ACS Style Citation Machine?

Online and automatic citation generators are powered by automated systems. These automatic ACS citation generators help the students in many ways but relying on them completely is not a good idea. The better way of getting additional help is to consult your course instructor. You can also get help from a professional and online essay writing service.

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