How to build an ACS reference list
ACS reference lists usually order sources by citation number unless an author-date variant is required. Each reference should match the source type and include enough detail for retrieval.
Copyable ACS reference list examples
Required fields before adding a reference
- Authors, inventors, editors, or organization name.
- Source title and source type.
- Journal abbreviation, year, volume, pages, and DOI for journal articles.
- Patent number, country or patent office, assignee when available, and publication date for patents.
- Exact URL and access date for web sources that can change.
ACS citation format in a reference list
ACS citation format changes by source type, but the reference list should stay consistent: journal references emphasize journal abbreviation, year, volume, pages, and DOI; patent references emphasize inventor, patent number, assignee, and publication date; website references emphasize title, URL, and access date.
Reference list source types
Journal articles, patents, books, websites, conference papers, theses, preprints, and datasets need different details. Use the matching generator tab before adding a citation to your list.
From in-text citations to the reference list
Every numbered or author-date ACS in-text citation should point to a complete entry in the reference list. If you change citation numbering while revising, update the reference list order before exporting.
Common ACS reference list mistakes
- Mixing full journal titles and ACS journal abbreviations without a clear requirement.
- Leaving DOI URLs off journal articles or datasets when they are available.
- Using only a patent URL without inventor, patent number, or publication date.
- Exporting a list before checking that in-text citation order still matches the reference order.
Exporting ACS references
After adding citations, export the list as Word, BibTeX, or RIS for use in a draft or reference manager. Reopen the exported file and spot-check punctuation, italics, numbering, DOI links, and source-type fields before submission.
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.
- Where can I compare ACS formats before adding references?
- Check ACS citation examples first when you are unsure whether a source should be treated as a journal article, patent, website, book, preprint, or dataset.
- How do I keep ACS in-text citations aligned with the reference list?
- Use one numbering or author-date mode from the ACS in-text citation generator, then keep the reference-list order consistent before exporting.
- 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.