ACS citation format examples
ACS citation format depends on the source type. Use the examples below to compare the order of authors, title, source name, year, volume, pages, DOI, patent details, URL, and access date before generating your own citation.
ACS input and output examples
Output: Whitesides, G. M. The Origins and the Future of Microfluidics. Nature 2006, 442, 368-373. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05058.
Output: Whitesides, G. M. The Origins and the Future of Microfluidics. Nature 2006, 442, 368-373. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05058.
Output: Goodenough, J. B.; Mizushima, K. Electrochemical Cell with Lithium Cobalt Oxide Cathode. US Patent 4,357,215, November 2, 1982. University of Oxford. https://patents.google.com/patent/US4357215A/en.
Output: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Benzene. NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0049.html (accessed June 7, 2026).
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.
ACS patent example
Goodenough, J. B.; Mizushima, K. Electrochemical Cell with Lithium Cobalt Oxide Cathode. US Patent 4,357,215, November 2, 1982. University of Oxford. https://patents.google.com/patent/US4357215A/en.
ACS website example
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Benzene. NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0049.html (accessed June 7, 2026).
ACS book example
Atkins, P.; de Paula, J. Physical Chemistry, 11th ed.; Oxford University Press: Oxford, 2023.
ACS preprint example
Patel, R.; Chen, Y. Machine Learning for Catalyst Discovery. ChemRxiv 2026. https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv-example.
How examples connect to ACS in-text citations
The reference examples show the full source details. Pair them with ACS in-text citations in superscript number, italic number, or author-date form depending on your assignment or journal requirement.
ACS citation format pathways
Use these existing pages together instead of guessing from one generic citation format.
Chemistry citation workflows
Use these internal pathways when you are moving from a single source citation to a complete ACS 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.
ACS citation tools
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
- What is ACS citation style?
- ACS citation style is a reference format commonly used in chemistry and related scientific fields.
- How should I use ACS citation examples?
- Use the examples to compare source-type patterns, then open the matching generator or add finished entries to the ACS reference list generator.
- Do ACS examples show in-text citations too?
- The examples focus on full references. Pair them with the ACS in-text citation generator when you need superscript numbers, italic numbers, or author-date citations.
- Does ACS use numbered citations?
- Yes. ACS style can use numbered in-text citations, including superscript numbers or italic numbers in parentheses.
- How do I cite a patent in ACS?
- An ACS patent citation usually includes the inventor, patent title, patent number, assignee, and publication date. See the ACS patent citation generator for the dedicated fields.
- Can this page generate journal article citations?
- Yes. The embedded tool can generate reference list entries and in-text citations.