CHEM 3000: American Chemical Society (ACS) Style

Aids for citing references in ACS Style

ACS Style Guide Chapter 14 -- References -- The ultimate guide (55 pages)

ACS Style Guide -- A shorter version created by the University of Wisconsin

CASSI Abbreviations -- ACS Style requires the use of abbreviated journal titles. These abbreviations are standardized by the Chemical Abstract Service Source Index (CASSI). Search for the name of the journal and CASSI will give you the appropriate abbreviation.

An example of a journal article in basic ACS Style (with article title)

• Deno, N. C.; Richey, H. G.; Liu, J. S.; Lincoln, D. N.; Turner, J. O. Carbonium Ions. XIX. The Intense Conjugation in Cyclopropyl Carbonium Ions. J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 1965, 87, 4533-4538.
• Larabee, D. C.; Reynolds, T. Y.; Hochberg, R. B. Estradiol-16α-carboxylic Acid Esters as Locally Active Estrogens. J. Med. Chem. 2001, 44, 1802-1814.

Two examples of journal articles in basic ACS Style (without article title)

• Deno, N. C.; Richey, H. G.; Liu, J. S.; Lincoln, D. N.; Turner, J. O. J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 1965, 87, 4533-4538
• Borman, S. Chem. Eng. News 1990, 78, 52.

Types of journal articles

• Communications
• Full papers
• Review articles

Other types of articles -- Rarely cited in science papers

• Editorials
• Letters to the editor
• Trade journal articles (e.g., C&E News)

How to Read a Scientific Paper was written for biochemistry students at the University of Arizona. About seven pages long, this web page provides some personal insights by its authors John W. Little and Roy Parker.

How to Read a Scientific Research Paper, a four-step guide for students by Ann McNeal, recommends first getting a handle on the vocabulary used in an article before trying to read it.

Peer review in a nutshell is a somewhat jaded view of peer review.

Method 1 => Via an online link to the article.

Method 2 =>  Library gateway – aka the Library catalog

The library catalog does two things …
    (1) Lets you know what we have in print and online
    (2) Authenticates you when off-campus

Method 3 =>  Interlibrary Loan -- A last resort, but don't forget this option.