Can I use the ACS generator after reading this guide?

Yes. Each guide links to the matching ACS citation generator page for formatting the final reference.

Is Chem Citation Tools affiliated with the American Chemical Society?

No. Chem Citation Tools is an independent educational project and is not affiliated with the American Chemical Society.

Should generated ACS citations be reviewed?

Yes. Review generated citations against your instructor, department, or target journal requirements before submission.

ACS Journal Article Citation Format

ACS journal article citation format

ACS journal references emphasize authors, the article title, the abbreviated journal title, year, volume, pages, and DOI. Chemistry journals often expect standard journal abbreviations rather than full journal names.

ACS journal article template

Author 1; Author 2. Article Title. Journal Abbreviation Year, Volume (Issue), Pages. DOI.

ACS journal article example

Whitesides, G. M. The Origins and the Future of Microfluidics. Nature 2006, 442, 368-373. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05058.

Field-by-field ACS journal article example

Author: Whitesides, G. M.
Article title: The Origins and the Future of Microfluidics
Journal: Nature
Year: 2006
Volume: 442
Pages: 368-373
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05058

Copyable journal article reference

Whitesides, G. M. The Origins and the Future of Microfluidics. Nature 2006, 442, 368-373. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05058.

Journal abbreviations in ACS

Chemistry references often use standard journal abbreviations. If your instructor or journal expects abbreviations, avoid using the full journal title unless the guide explicitly asks for it.

Common ACS journal citation mistakes

Using a full journal title when an ACS journal abbreviation is expected.
Dropping the article title from a student paper reference list.
Formatting the DOI as plain text when a DOI URL is clearer for digital work.

Related ACS tools

Use these pages to turn the guide into a formatted ACS reference or a complete reference list.

Journal Article DOI In-text Citation Reference List

ACS citation guides

These focused guides answer long-tail ACS citation questions and link back to the matching generator when you are ready to format a reference.

How to cite a patent in ACS styleA step-by-step ACS patent citation guide for inventors, assignees, patent numbers, dates, and URLs.How to cite a website in ACS styleLearn when to include author, page title, website name, URL, and access date for ACS web references.ACS journal article citation formatA focused guide to ACS journal article references, journal abbreviations, volume, pages, and DOI links.ACS DOI citation guideUse DOI metadata carefully for journal articles, datasets, preprints, and chemistry sources.ACS reference list cleanup checklistCheck source types, DOI links, journal abbreviations, patent fields, and in-text citation consistency.

Sources and method

Citation examples are maintained from public ACS citation patterns and checked against authoritative identifier and metadata sources. Always follow the final requirements from your instructor, department, or target journal.

ACS Guide to Scholarly CommunicationPrimary style guide for ACS scholarly writing and reference patterns.
Crossref REST APIDOI metadata source used when the tool imports article details from a DOI.
DOI Foundation HandbookBackground on DOI identifiers and persistent links.
Google PatentsPublic patent records used as a practical source for patent numbers and stable patent pages.
ChemRxivCommon chemistry preprint source that often supplies DOI-backed records.
Royal Society of Chemistry author guidanceRSC publisher guidance used as a starting point for RSC reference-format checks.
Nature Portfolio author guidanceNature Portfolio author information used as a starting point for Nature-style reference checks.

Editorial review

Last reviewed: July 26, 2026. Chem Citation Tools is an independent educational project for chemistry citation workflows. The site is not affiliated with the American Chemical Society, and generated citations should be reviewed before academic or journal submission.

FAQ

Can I generate the citation after reading this guide?: Yes. Use the related generator links above to create the final ACS reference.
Is this an official ACS page?: No. Chem Citation Tools is an independent educational project and is not affiliated with the American Chemical Society.
Should I review citations before submission?: Yes. Always compare generated citations with your instructor, department, or target journal requirements.