How to use the ACS citation generator
Choose a source type, paste a DOI, URL, patent number, or title if you have one, then complete the manual fields. Select superscript numbers, italic numbers in parentheses, or author-date before copying the reference.
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 citation template
Author 1; Author 2. Article Title. Journal Abbreviation Year, Volume (Issue), Pages. DOI.ACS reference list example
Journal article fields example
- Title: The Origins and the Future of Microfluidics
- Author: Whitesides, G. M.
- Journal: Nature
- Year: 2006
- Volume: 442
- Pages: 368-373
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05058
Copyable ACS journal article citation
Required journal article fields
- Author names in the source order.
- Article title.
- Journal title or ACS-style journal abbreviation required by the assignment or journal.
- Publication year, volume, issue when needed, and page range or article number.
- DOI URL when available.
Journal article input and output example
Authority and manual review for journal citations
The ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication is the primary ACS style reference. This generator follows common ACS journal-article patterns, but final punctuation, journal abbreviation requirements, article-title treatment, and online-first details should be checked against your instructor, department, or target journal instructions.
DOI, in-text, patent, and RSC next steps
After formatting a journal article, use the ACS DOI citation generator when a DOI record needs cleanup, then use the ACS in-text citation generator to keep the citation number or author-date form aligned with the reference list. If the source is an invention record, switch to the ACS patent citation generator. If the paper asks for Royal Society of Chemistry style instead of ACS, compare the RSC citation generator before copying.
What to check before submitting
Confirm author order, spelling, year, journal abbreviation, patent country, DOI URL, and access date before you paste the citation into a paper. ACS assignments and journals can vary, so use the required course or journal instructions as the final authority.
ACS in-text citation styles
ACS supports numbered citations as superscript numbers, numbered citations as italic numbers in parentheses, and author-date citations. Follow your instructor, journal, or department requirement.
Citation data and limitations
DOI lookup uses public Crossref metadata when available. Patent, website, book, thesis, and conference fields still need human review because public records may use different title casing, assignee names, abbreviations, or publication dates.
Common ACS 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.
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.
- 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.