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Chemistry: Citing Sources in Chemistry

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Citing Sources

College Policy on Citing Sources & Plagiarism

It is necessary for you to give proper credit to all of the resources you use in your research papers. Plagiarism is a violation of Dickinson's Student Code of Conduct, and is a specific form of cheating defined in the code as follows:

1) To plagiarize is to use without proper citation or acknowledgment the words, ideas, or work of another. Whenever one relies on someone else for phraseology, even for only two or three words, one must acknowledge indebtedness by using quotation marks and giving the source, either in the text or in a footnote.

2) When one includes information that is not a matter of general knowledge, including all statistics and translations, one must indicate one's indebtedness in the text or footnote. When one borrows an idea or the logic of an argument, one must acknowledge indebtedness either in a footnote or in the text. When in doubt, footnote. (Academic Standards Committee, November, 1965) You should include appropriate citations in all of your research. Your professor will direct you as to what specific citation style they may prefer.

How to Cite

In addition to the examples below, see the new online-only style guide:

In chemistry, the references are used in a paper may be presented in a number of formats, so always ask what your professor requires. ACS Style is used by the American Chemical Society:

Journal article citation elements for ACS Style :

Author one surname, first and middle initials; author 2 name, initials. Standard Abbreviation for Journal Title in Italics . Year in bold , Volume number in italics , first page-last page.

• List all authors using last names and initials.
• Do NOT make up or guess journal abbreviations! You can look them up using the CAS Source Index (CASSI) Search Tool .

For example:

1) online journal article (the S after the page numbers is because this specific article was in a supplement to the main journal)

2) print journal article

When a quotation or idea needs to be cited within the text of the paper, an italicized number corresponding to the appropriate source in the enumerated list is included within the sentence, in parentheses and italicized, immediately following the phrase that requires credit, like so: "...quotation from article" (2) .

Book citation elements for  ACS Style :

Author (or editor), book title, date of publication, publisher, and place of publication. 

1) Book with two authors

Beall, H.; Trimbur, J. A Short Guide to Writing about Chemistry , 2nd ed.; Longman: New York, 2001. 

2) Chapter in an edited book (italicize the title of the edited volume, not the chapter title, and include page numbers for the chapter being cited)

McBrien, M. Selecting the Correct pH Value for HPLC. In HPLC Made to Measure: A Practical Handbook for Optimization ; Kromidas, S., Ed.; Wiley-VCH: Weinheim, Germany, 2006; pp 89-103.

Website  citation elements for  ACS Style :

Author (if known), title of the website, URL, date of access. 

1) Website with no listed author:

Penn State Department of Chemistry. http://www.chem.psu.edu/ (accessed June 7, 2010).

2) Website with author:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov (accessed Nov 15, 2004). 

The University of Wisconsin - Madison Chemistry Library has a nice online guide to citing in ACS Style with many more examples.

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Style Guides

• ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication (2020) A new edition of the ACS Style Guide.

Citing sources is a necessary part of scientific research, scholarship and communication. There are many different style guides that dictate the format of cited references. In chemistry, one of the most commonly used guides is the ACS Style published by the American Chemical Society. Below are examples of the most frequently encountered types of materials.

• ACS Style Quick Guide This guide provides examples of how to format citations from many common sources.

Articles (Journals)

Bezanson, M;  Tomberg, A;  Moitessier, N. Fluoride-Mediated Desulfonylative Intramolecular Cyclization to Fused and Bridged Bicyclic Compounds: A Complex Mechanism. J. Org. Chem. 2017 82 (5),  2579-2588. DOI:  10.1021/acs.joc.6b02999

Books and e-Books

Emsley, J. Molecules at an Exhibition: Portraits of Intriguing Materials in Everyday Life ; Oxford University Press: 1998; pp 15-20.

Santen, R. A. van. Modern Heterogeneous Catalysis: An Introduction ; Wiley-VCH, 2017; DOI:10.1002/9783527810253

Conference Proceedings

Course Notes/Lectures

Doe, J. CHEM 6001 Lecture on NMR Spectroscopy. Presented at Queen's University, Kingston, Sept. 10, 2019.

Databases (SciFinder, etc...)

Caffeine. SciFinder. CAS, n.d. https://scifinder-cas-org.proxy.queensu.ca/ (accessed 2020-03-28). IR spectral data obtained from Wiley Subscription Services. (CAS RN: 58-08-2).

Encyclopedias 

Maxwell, G.; Allison, J.; Dixon, R. Cyanides. In Kirk‐Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology; Wiley, March 25, 2020. DOI: 10.1002/0471238961.0325011416051903.a01.pub3

Bond Lengths and Strengths. In Lange's Handbook of Chemistry , 17th ed.; Speight, J. G., Ed. McGraw-Hill Education, 2017. https://www-accessengineeringlibrary-com.proxy.queensu.ca/content/book/9781259586095

Earle, M.J.; Katdare, S.P. Aromatic Sulfonation Reactions. US 7,009,077 B2, 2006.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

2-Butyne-1,4-diol diacetate; CAS RN: 1573-17-7; b103268; Sigma-Aldrich: Oakville, ON, April 19, 2019.  https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/aldrich/b103268 (accessed 2019-09-18).

Lee, D. N-Heterocyclic Carbene as Self-Assembled Monolayers on Gold and Carbon. Ph.D. Thesis [Online], Queen's University, Kingston, ON, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/1974/27818 (accessed 2020-09-16).

Periodic Table. American Chemical Society. https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/periodictable.html (accessed 2020-07-20).

International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry Home Page. https://iupac.org (accessed 2020-07-20).

Note: The NIST Chemistry WebBook should be cited as a book:

Chickos, J.S. "Heat of Sublimation Data" In NIST Chemistry WebBook; NIST Standard Reference Database Number 69, Eds. P.J. Linstrom and W.G. Mallard, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg MD, 20899, https://doi.org/10.18434/T4D303, (retrieved Sept. 13, 2020).

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University of Denver

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Why do I need to cite my sources?

When should i cite a source, how do i cite a source, quick tools for auto-formatting your citations:, understand the generic format of a citation:.

Imagine research as a conversation -- scholars are trading ideas back and forth and building on the findings of earlier work. Citing your sources is an important part of contributing to this conversation -- it allows readers to understand how your work fits into the overall conversation.

Citing your sources in a standard style also helps readers tell at a glance what type of source you used (book vs. journal article, etc), and it helps readers find and reference the sources you used.

What is Plagiarism?

The  DU Honor Code  defines plagiarism as "including any representation of another's work or ideas as one's own in academic and educational submissions."

At DU, plagiarism is seen as a form of academic misconduct and can result in severe consequences. These explanations of the most common  types of plagiarism  from Bowdoin College can help you learn to detect plagiarism in your own and other's work.

The text above is a direct quote from the Northern Arizona University e-Learning Center's  Academic Integrity @ NAU tutorial. The e-Learning Center was paraphrasing Princeton University's guidelines.

What is Plagiarism Detection Software?

DU uses a plagiarism detection software called VeriCite . When a student turns in a paper through Canvas, VeriCite checks the internet and many databases to see if anything has been copied from another person’s work.

Common Citation Styles:

• The ACS Style Guide (American Chemical Society) This link takes you directly to Chapter 14, which explains how to format references in ACS Style. Click on the link for the Table of Contents to read the entire Style Guide, which describes how to write, review, submit, and edit scholarly & scientific manuscripts.
• CSE (Council of Science Editors) Style An overview by the Writing Center at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The library has multiple print copies of the 8th edition of the CSE manual: "Scientific Style and Format: The CSE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers" (2014).

Online Style Guides:

• Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab)
• Citing Information (UNC Libraries)
• The Writer's Handbook (UW Madison Writing Center)

Want to use a program that not only creates your bibliography automatically, but can also store and organize citations and PDFs?

• Check out ReadCube Papers -- DU provides all students, faculty, and staff with free accounts.
• Check out Zotero -- a great free option from the makers of the Firefox browser.

Just need to format a few citations right now? Try these quick tools:

• ZoteroBib Create a quick bibliography by pasting in a page URL or article information such as the DOI.
• Google Scholar Citation Generator Look up an citation in Google Scholar, then look for the quote icon below the citation. This link provides examples of the citation in MLA, APA, and Chicago styles.
• CItation Generator Build citations in APA, Chicago, or MLA style.

Whichever program you choose, remember to proofread the citations it generates for you!

If you understand the general anatomy of a citation, it's easier to create your own citations -- plus, you can tell at a glance what kind of source was cited. Here's the anatomy of two sources formatted in the CSE (Council of Science Editors) style:

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Referencing for your subject

This guide will help you understand why you need to reference. It also has a guide on how to use Harvard or Vancouver style referencing for a variety of different resources you might use for your academic work,  including books, journals, conference proceedings, websites, social media and more.

Reference management software

Reference management software packages can help you:

• Create a personal database of references relevant to you, along with associated files.
• Insert references into a Word document and format them automatically in a citation style of your choice.
• De-duplicate references retrieved from multiple sources.
• Share references with others.

There is a range of different software available; UCL Library Services provides support and guidance for Endnote, Zotero and Mendeley. These are all available to download for free or under UCL licences.

Reference management software guide

• Reference management software guide Find out more about using reference management software, including helping you choose what software package to use.

Referencing Training

Citing references and avoiding plagiarism - online training.

• Online tutorial: referencing and avoiding plagiarism This tutorial explains what plagiarism is and how to avoid it, why you should acknowledge your sources, an introduction to how to cite your references and to reference management software.
• Guide to references, citations and avoiding plagiarism This guide covers the role of referencing in academic writing and practice, and how to reference sources appropriately.

Guides to different software

• Mendeley guide
• Endnote guide
• Zotero guide

Quick links

• Understanding academic integrity course
• UCL guide to Academic Integrity
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Chemistry: Referencing for Science

As   science students, you will be using the  APA 7th referencing style . 

Why is referencing important?

At university you are expected to reference information sources used in your assignments. Referencing is important as it:

• gives credit to authors
• shows that you’ve done your research  
• means that others can find the resources you have used .

APA 7th Referencing Guide

For help on how to reference using APA 7th style, have a look at our comprehensive referencing guide.

You can open it in a new page and download it by clicking the link below.

Referencing Videos

Useful Sections

Here are some common types of resources you will need to reference as a science student:

Journal Articles  (Section 2.01)

Reports  (Section 7.01)

• Referencing Software

UTS Library supports RefWorks and EndNote .

RefWorks is a cloud-based reference manager that can assist your referencing. It can be used to create reference lists and in-text citations. We recommend this to undergraduate and postgraduate by coursework students. 

• UTS Library: RefWorks

EndNote is suitable for researchers and can be a helpful tool when undertaking a scoping or systematic review.

To learn more about EndNote, visit the Library pages linked below, have a look at our EndNote videos and sign up for our EndNote workshops!

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Chemistry: Citing references

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Whenever you refer to another person's work in your own essay, dissertation or article you must acknowledge them and give full details of your source. You risk being accused of plagiarism if you fail to do so. See the video on Avoiding unintentional plagiarism (below) for tips on using sources in your work and avoiding poor academic practice.

Which referencing style should I use?

The Chemistry Department usually requires students to follow the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) referencing style .  Consult the guidance below to discover how to create correct references in this style. 

For further help with formatting your references consult your Academic Liaison Librarian, Jackie Skinner. Email, come to the weekly drop-in, or make an appointment.

How should I use references in my work?

If you are unsure about using references in your work, and whether to use quotes or paraphrase, take a look at this guide:

• Using quotes and paraphrases

For further help on using references in your work make an appointment with one of our Study Advisers:

• Make an appointment with a Study Adviser

RSC referencing

The Chemistry department usually require students to use the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) style which is a numbered referencing style. There are brief examples of how to reference the most common types of sources below. See also the link below to the RSC's own guide to referencing:

• How to reference using the RSC style A guide produced by the Royal Society of Chemistry on using their referencing style.

In-text citations - RSC style

• Multiple citations
• Creating superscript text

In-text citations are given using a superscript numeral i.e. Atkins. 1   This is the same for all types of source.

Your citations should be numbered consecutively in the order they are used in the text. If you cite the same source more than once, you should use the same number each time.

Citations can either be placed directly after a word or at the end of a sentence, but should be placed after punctuation i.e. after a comma or full stop.

Here is a short example:

Despite some difficulties, 1 this method was proven to be effective. 2

Author(s) can be mentioned at their first citation in the text, but this isn't essential. Just use their surnames - no initials. For papers with one or two authors simply mention their names. For those with three or more authors just mention the first one followed by et al. Examples:

Chen and Qi used this method for the first time. 3

Zanka et al. used proton-nuclear magnetic resonance to characterise source fingerprints and ageing processes. 4

Any figures or images you use from other papers should also include a numerical citation in the caption. These numbers must be part of the sequence you use through the text, and have a full reference in the bibliography at the end.

If you have multiple citations for a piece of information you should list them all.

If you are citing three or more sources at once and the numbers are consecutive, you can separate the first and last sources using a dash i.e.  1–7 .

If they are not consecutive or you are citing two sources, you should separate them with commas (no spaces) i.e.  1,5,12  or 7,8 .

You can also use a combination of both such as  1,3,5–9 .

Here is a typical example:

Such reactions are often rationalised using empirical reactivity rules derived from resonance theory, 5  or calculated properties such as FMOs, 6,7  and electrostatic potentials. 16–19 

Extract from: J. J. Brown and S.L. Cockroft,  Chem. Sci. , 2013,  4 , 1772-1780.

You can find instructions on creating both superscript and subscript (i.e. H 2 O) text in Microsoft Office applications via this link:

• Creating superscript text in Word

References - RSC style

• Books & chapters
• Journal articles
• Images, tables, diagrams

At the end of your work, you will need to produce a reference list. This will include full details of all sources you have cited (used) in your text.

• List your sources numerically in the order you referred to them in your work - not in alphabetical order.
• All authors must be individually listed for each source, in the format initials followed by surname e.g. R. R. Schrock. You must not use et al. in a reference . If there are two authors, put 'and' between them e.g. T.J. Hebden and Q. Li. If there are more than two, list them all with commas between each and 'and' before the last one.
• You do not need to include the titles of a journal articles in your references.
• Journal titles should be written using an abbreviated form (see the 'Journal articles' tab for further information on the form to use).

Guidance on citing the most common types of publication is available via the tabs in this box. For other types of publication see the RSC guide:

Books with a single author  should be referenced as:

Author name, Title , Publisher, Place of publication, Edition (if not the first), year.

P. W. Atkins, Chemistry: a Very Short Introduction , Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2015.

Note that every significant word in the title is given an initial capital letter.

Books with multiple authors  should be referenced as:

 Author names,  Title , Publisher, Place of publication, Edition (if not the first), year.

C. E. Housecroft and A. G. Sharpe,  Inorganic Chemistry , Pearson, Harlow, 5th edn., 2018. 

Chapters in edited books should be referenced as:

Chapter Author, in  Title of book , ed. Book Editor(s), Publisher, Place of publication, Edition (if not the first), year, chapter number, pages.

M. J. White, in  Chemical Information for Chemists: A Primer , ed. J. N. Currano and D. L. Roth, RSC Publishing, Cambridge, 2014, ch. 3, pp.53-90.

Note that 'ed.' to indicate an edited book remains ed. not eds. where there are multiple editors.

Journal articles (online and in print) should be referenced as:

Authors, Abbreviated Journal Title (in italics) , year, volume number (in bold) , page numbers.

A. K. Gayen, R. Singla and S. Ramakrishnan, Chem. Commun., 2024, 60 , 1534-1545.

Note: when using the RSC style, you do not need to include the title of the article.

If there are no page numbers include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) instead. This may be the case for articles which have been published online but are not yet available in print.

J. Frau and D. Glossman-Mitnik,  Chem. Cent. J. , 2017,  11 , DOI: 10.1186/s13065-017-0239-7.

Search the following database to find the correct abbreviations for journal titles:

• Chemical Abstracts Service Source Index (CASSI)

If you can't find the journal you want to cite in this list have a look at other titles containing the same words to see how they have been abbreviated and construct a sensible abbreviation. If this isn't possible then cite the full journal title.

Websites should be referenced as:

Name of resource, URL, [month and year you accessed the resource].

ChemSpider, http://www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.4886482.html, (accessed May 2022).

Patent  references are very short! Include the following:

Country code, patent number, and the date of the patent.

Br. Pat., GB2548342, 2016. US Pat., 5 057 555, 1991.

Any images, tables or diagrams that are reproduced from another source should be numerically referenced in the figure caption. Numbering should fit in with the existing citations. For example:

Figure 1: Electrooxidation of (a) dopamine, (b) ascorbic acid and (c) cholesterol biomolecules. 5

Reference list

5. N. Thakur, D. Gupta, D. Mandal and T. C. Nagaiah, Chem. Commun ., 2021, 57 , 13084-13113.

Reference management tools

Consider using EndNote or Mendeley to manage your references. See the EndNote/Mendeley page in this guide:

• Guidance on using EndNote and Mendeley

Avoiding unintentional plagiarism video

If you are unable to view this video on YouTube it is also available on YuJa - view the Avoiding Unintentional Plagiarism video on YuJa (University username and password required)

Your Chemistry librarian

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• Clark College Libraries
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• CHEM 142 - General Chemistry II - Annotated Bibliography Project

CHEM 142 - General Chemistry II - Annotated Bibliography Project: ACS Style

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ACS Style (Chemistry)

• Citing Sources Using ACS Handout 4-page handout with basic examples for citing the most common sources in ACS format.
• ACS Style Guide From the University of Wisconsin-Madison
• ACS Style Guide From Williams College Libraries
• ACS Citation Guide From Mount Royal University
• Citing Sources in ACS Style ACS guide from the University of Texas at Arlington.

With ACS, you need to abbreviate the names of scientific journals.

For example, the Journal of the American Chemical Society would be J. Am. Chem. Soc.  

To turn a scientific journal title into an abbreviation, visit CASSI.

• CASSI Use this free online tool to convert the full name of a scientific journal into an acronym, as required when citing sources using the ACS style guide.

ACS Style Guide

ACS has provided the section ACS Style Quick Guide (from the ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication ) on their website for free:

ACS Style Quick Guide

• Articles Color Coded Citations
• Articles Color Coded Citations PDF

• Websites Color Coded Citations
• Websites Color Coded Citations PDF

Online Books

• Online Books Color Coded Citations
• Online Books Color Coded Citations PDF

Print Books

• Print Books Color Coded Citations
• Print Books Color Coded Citations PDF

Frequent Errors

Check your ACS citations for these details:

• Include all author names in a reference citation. With multiple authors, separate the names from one another by semicolons. Always end the author field with a period. List the names in inverted form: surname first,then first initial, middle initial, and qualifiers (Jr., II).
• Put spaces between the elements and after punctuation, just as you would in a regular sentence.
• Remove hyperlinks. The URL should not be blue or underlined (in Word: right-click on the hyperlink --> remove hyperlink).
• For journals, the year should be in bold .
• For journals, volume numbers are in italics .
• For journals, if there is an issue number, include it in parentheses.
• For scientific journals, use the CASSI abbreviation for the journal name. If the journal is not in CASSI, use the full journal name and do NOT follow with punctuation.
• End the citation with a period.

Keep visiting this box for updates!

Q & A About ACS

Question: There's no date on an article from the U.S. Department of Energy website. How do I cite it?

Answer: In place of the date, use (n.d.)

Question : Do I use a permalink or the URL from the address bar?

Answer : For the Chemistry 142 annotated bibliography, when using an article from one of the library's databases, use the permalink for the article rather than the URL from the browser's address bar.

In EBSCOhost databases, look for the permalink on the right bar:

Question : The URL or permalink is very long, and it causes a big gap of white space at the end of the line. Should I break it up?

Answer: No. For the Chemistry 142 annotated bibliography assignment, don't worry about the white space; let the URL or permalink wrap naturally.

Question : Do I include the article title?

Answer : Yes. Although the ACS Style Guide says journal titles are optional information, it also says they can be "desirable to highlight the contents." For CHEM 142, including the article title will make it easier to share annotated bibliographies with classmates.

Question : Do I use title case or sentence case for the article title?

Answer : For CHEM 142, use title case, where all the main words of a title are capitalized. (The ACS Style Guide has a slight variation for ACS publications -- you can ignore that.)

Question : Should I use a URL or a DOI?

Answer : If there is no permalink, use the DOI if one is available. If there is no DOI, use the URL from the browser.

Question : What format do I use for the letters DOI? Is it DOI: or doi:? 

Answer : According to the ACS style guide page 319, use upper case, followed by a colon and a space, like this:  DOI: 10.1021/ja047915o 

Question : How do I abbreviate a hyphenated first name, like Jane-Francis Smith?

Answer : Keep the hyphen. Jane-Francis Smith becomes: Smith, J.-F.

Question : What if a journal title is abbreviated, but it's not a CASSI abbreviation?

Answer : If it's not a CASSI abbreviation, track down the full journal name and use that.

Question : How do I treat names with participles, like Michael van der Putten?

Answer : We cannot find a rule in ACS, so we are following this format: Michael van der Putten would be: van der Putten, Michael , alphabetized under "V".

Question : If the journal title is not abbreviated, should I put a period or a comma at the end of the journal title? 

Answer : No. For both scientific and non-scientific journals, do not put either a period or a comma at the end of a non-abbreviated journal title. 

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Chemistry: Referencing & reference management tools

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Royal Society of Chemistry referencing style

Chemists reference according to the referencing style of the journal that they are submitting to. 

The department recommends the RSC (Royal Society of Chemistry) style for all courseowrk assignments that require referencing.

Referencing using the Royal Society of Chemistry style

A style of referencing commonly used in Chemistry is the Royal Society of Chemistry style.  For supporting using this style you may want to explore the resource below:

How to reference using the Royal Society of Chemistry style

EndNote Desktop video series

The library support the use of EndNote Desktop and EndNote online, reference management tools.  

There are comprehensive online guides available:

EndNote Desktop

EndNote Online

In addition, there are a number of short videos available to support you in installing and using EndNote Desktop.

RefWorks - Proquest

• RefWorks - Proquest This link opens in a new window RefWorks helps you manage your references with a handy plugin for MS Word that enables you to cite while you write. Please use 'Login from my institution' when creating an account.
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How to Reference

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Harvard Referencing

The core referencing style used at Teesside University is Harvard Standard according to the book 'Cite Them Right' by Pears and Shields.

Click on the book cover below for details of the print copies held in the Library.

Click here for the online version.

Help: Referencing and Paraphrasing

• Harvard referencing workshops and tutorials
• Referencing Guide
• Example Reference List
• How to paraphrase
• Turnitin guidance Login to Blackboard Ultra. Select 'Organisations', then 'Check your Work for Plagiarism' for guidance on using Turnitin.

Referencing examples

• Book referencing examples
• Journal referencing examples
• Website referencing examples
• Act of Parliament

How to reference a book

Books with up to 3 authors:.

In-text citation

Pears and Shields (2022, p. 20) or (Pears and Shields, 2022, p. 20)

• Reference list

Pears, R. and Shields, G. (2022)  Cite them right: the essential referencing guide . 12th edn. London: Bloomsbury Academic .

Books with 4 or more authors:

(Young  et al ., 2015, p. 46) or Young  et al . (2015, p. 46)

Young, H.D.  et al.  (2015)  Sears and Semansky's university physics . 10th edn. San Francisco: Addison-Wesley.

Secondary Referencing

(Macmillan and Crelman,1991, cited in Wickens, 2002, p. 37)

Wickens, T.D. (2002)  Elementary signal detection theory . Oxford: Oxford University Press

An ebook that includes all the same elements as the print version e.g. page numbers, edition, publication details, should be referenced as though it was a print book.

Ebooks available on an edevice e.g. Kindle

If the ebook is available on an edevice (Kindle, smartphones and tablets) the elements might not be the same as the print version.  If this is the case you need to use the information you do have e.g. loc or %

(Adams, 1979, loc 876) or Adams (1979, loc 876)

Adams, D. (1979)  The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy.  Available at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/kindle-ebooks (Downloaded: 28 August 2013) .

How to reference a journal article 

Journal articles with up to 3 authors (applies to paper and electronic versions).

(Parton and Fleming, 2008) or Parton and Fleming (2008)

Parton, S. and Fleming, H. (2008) 'Academic libraries and learning support in collaboration',  New Review of Academic Librarianship , 13(1), pp. 79-89. Available at:  https://doi.org/10.1080/13614530802021698

Journal articles with 4 or more authors (applies to both paper and electronic formats - for instance this article is electronic and includes a doi * see below for information on doi's).

(Norrie  et al ., 2012) or Norrie  et al.  (2012)

Norrie, C. et al. (2012) 'Doing it differently? A review of literature on teaching reflective practice across health and social care professions',  Reflective Practice , 13(4), pp. 565-578 . Available at: https://doi-org.ezproxy.tees.ac.uk/10.1080/14623943.2012.670628 

How to Reference an electronic journal article with doi

Barke, Mowl and Shield's study (2010) ....

Barke, M., Mowl, S. and Shields, G. (2010) 'Malaga - a failed resort of the early twentieth century?', Journal of Tourism History , 2(3), pp. 187-212. Available at:  https://doi.org/10.1080/1755182X.2010.523145

* a doi (Digital Object Identifier) is used to identify individual digital (online) sources, such as journal articles and conference papers. No accessed date is needed.

How to Reference an electronic journal article with URL

An example cited by Dutta and Marjit (2016, p. 120).

Dutta, M. and Marjit, S. (2016) 'Intra-country technology transfer', Indian Ecomonic Review , 51(1/2), new series, pp. 117-127. Available at:  https://www.jstor.org/stable/44376239  (Accessed: 27 May 2021). 

How to reference a website  

BBC (2018)  or  (BBC, 2018)

BBC (2018)  News . Available at: 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news  

(Accessed: 14 May 2018).

How to reference an Act of Parliament (for UK after 1963)

( wild animals in circuses act   2019 ).

Wild Animals in Circuses Act 2019, c. 24. Available at:  https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/24/contents  (Accessed: 23 November 2023).

Section of an Act:

As outlined in section 20(2) of the Act ( Children and Families Act 2014 )....

Reference List

Children and Families Act 2014, c. 6 . Available at:  https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/6/contents (Accessed: 23 November 2023).

Online tutorial for referencing

• Paraphrasing

If you cannot view the online tutorial below, go to the following web page . When you've viewed the basics section there, click back to this page and select the 'In-text' tab above.

If you cannot view the online tutorial below, go to the following  web page . When you've viewed the in-text citations section there, click back to this page and select the 'Paraphrasing' tab above.

If you cannot view the online tutorial below, go to the following  web page . When you've viewed the paraphrasing section there, click back to this page and select the 'Reference list' tab above.

If you cannot view the online tutorial below, go to the following  web page . When you've viewed the reference list section there, click back to this page.

RefWorks allows you to create and manage your own personal database of useful references. You can then use these to quickly compile a reference list or bibliography for your assignments. 

Click on the link below for more information, and details of Library workshops on how to use Refworks.

• Refworks LibGuide
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Royal Society of Chemistry Citation Generator

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Popular Royal Society of Chemistry style Citation Examples

How to cite a book in royal society of chemistry style.

Use the following template to cite a book using the Royal Society of Chemistry citation style.

Reference List

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

How to cite a Journal in Royal Society of Chemistry style

Use the following template to cite a journal using the Royal Society of Chemistry citation style.

How to cite Film or Movie in Royal Society of Chemistry style

Use the following template to cite a film or movie using the Royal Society of Chemistry citation style.

How to cite an Online image or video in Royal Society of Chemistry style

Use the following template to cite an online image or video using the Royal Society of Chemistry citation style.

How to cite a Website in Royal Society of Chemistry style

Use the following template to cite a website using the Royal Society of Chemistry citation style.

Additional Royal Society of Chemistry style Citation Examples

How to cite a blog in royal society of chemistry style.

Use the following template to cite a blog using the Royal Society of Chemistry citation style.

How to cite a Court case in Royal Society of Chemistry style

Use the following template to cite a court case using the Royal Society of Chemistry citation style.

How to cite a Dictionary entry in Royal Society of Chemistry style

Use the following template to cite a dictionary entry using the Royal Society of Chemistry citation style.

How to cite an E-book or PDF in Royal Society of Chemistry style

Use the following template to cite an e-book or pdf using the Royal Society of Chemistry citation style.

How to cite an Edited book in Royal Society of Chemistry style

Use the following template to cite an edited book using the Royal Society of Chemistry citation style.

How to cite an Email in Royal Society of Chemistry style

Use the following template to cite an email using the Royal Society of Chemistry citation style.

How to cite an Encyclopedia article in Royal Society of Chemistry style

Use the following template to cite an encyclopedia article using the Royal Society of Chemistry citation style.

How to cite an Interview in Royal Society of Chemistry style

Use the following template to cite an interview using the Royal Society of Chemistry citation style.

How to cite a Magazine in Royal Society of Chemistry style

Use the following template to cite a magazine using the Royal Society of Chemistry citation style.

How to cite a Newspaper in Royal Society of Chemistry style

Use the following template to cite a newspaper using the Royal Society of Chemistry citation style.

How to cite a Podcast in Royal Society of Chemistry style

Use the following template to cite a podcast using the Royal Society of Chemistry citation style.

How to cite a Song in Royal Society of Chemistry style

Use the following template to cite a song using the Royal Society of Chemistry citation style.

How to cite The Bible in Royal Society of Chemistry style

Use the following template to cite The Bible using the Royal Society of Chemistry citation style.

How to cite a TV Show in Royal Society of Chemistry style

Use the following template to cite a TV Show using the Royal Society of Chemistry citation style.

Chemistry Library Guide: Referencing

• Reference Materials
• Journals & Articles

Referencing

• Library Training

Royal Society of Chemistry: The Department of Chemistry at UCT requires students to use the referencing style of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). This is explained, with examples, in th e RSC Publishing site's guidelines for authors .  The basic rules for using this style are summarized here ... but, when it comes to creating your bibliography, you can get RefWorks (our reference management software) to do all the work for you!  See the section on RefWorks below.

RSC Referencing Style  (summarized from the RSC author guidelines)

• In-text citations are in the form of superscript numbers.
• References are numbered sequentially.
• Place the superscript number at the relevant point in the text,   after any punctuation.
• The full reference is listed at the end of your work and the list should be double-spaced.
• Use abbreviations for journal titles. (Use the Chemical Abstracts Service Source Index (CASSI) search tool to find the correct abbreviations.)
• All authors names must be listed and article titles must not be included.

Note the use of punctuation and bold/italic fonts in the following examples :

JOURNAL ARTICLE REFERENCE: 1. D. O. Bassett, Am. Lab. , 1987, 19 , 28.  

BOOK REFERENCE: 2. E. Yourdon, Modern Structured Analysis , Yourdon Press, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1989.

REFERENCE TO A CHAPTER IN AN EDITED BOOK:

3. A. W. Oxford in Progress in Medicinal Chemistry , ed. G. P. Ellis and D. K. Luscombe, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1992, p 239.

CASSI Search Tool :  The Royal Society of Chemistry citation style requires that journal titles are abbreviated using the official abbreviations found in the Chemical Abstracts Service Source Index (CASSI).  This resource is now available for searching online at  http://cassi.cas.org/about.jsp .

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• How to Write Your Chemistry Assignment| Study and Reference Tips

How to Use Research and Good Referenceto Do Your Chemistry Assignment

Learn effective strategies for conducting research, evaluating sources, and referencing accurately for your chemistry assignments. Improve the quality and credibility of your work with the help of these helpful tips. We are also reliable and always available to do your chemistry assignment whenever you need our services. Contact us now.

Research and citation are crucial skills for completing your chemistry assignment . They enable you to assemble credible information, bolster your arguments, and properly credit the original authors. In this blog, we will discuss some helpful techniques for improving your research and citation skills, thereby ensuring the accuracy and credibility of your chemistry assignments.

Start with a Sound Strategy

When conducting research and citing sources for chemistry assignments, it is essential to develop a plan beforehand. Before beginning your investigation, take the time to create a detailed plan outlining the assignment's objectives and scope. This plan will serve as a guide, allowing you to remain organized and focused throughout your research journey.

Initially, you must define the topic or concept that must be explored in your assignment. To assure a systematic approach, divide it into distinct research questions or subtopics. Consider the main areas of chemistry that pertain to your assignment and determine the specific information you must collect.

Create a timeline or schedule to effectively manage your investigation. Assign due dates to the various phases of the research process, including locating sources, reading and analyzing them, and writing the assignment. A timeline will help you remain on track and prevent last-minute panic.

Additionally, consider the investigation resources available. Choose whether you will use books, scientific journals, online databases, or other sources. Consider the availability and dependability of these resources in your planning.

By beginning with a firm strategy, you position yourself for success. It enables you to approach your research with clarity and purpose, ensuring that you collect the necessary data to support your arguments and fulfil the requirements of your chemistry assignment.

Utilize Reliable Sources

When conducting chemistry-related investigations, it is essential to rely on reliable sources. The accuracy and dependability of the information provided by reputable sources enhance the credibility and calibre of your work. You can ensure that the information in your assignment is current, accurate, and supported by scientific evidence if you rely on credible sources.

Scientific periodicals are one of the most reliable resources for chemistry research. Before publication, the research in these journals is subjected to a rigorous peer-review process in which experts in the field evaluate its accuracy and validity. Accessing credible scientific journals enables you to remain current on the most recent discoveries, theories, and developments in chemistry.

Textbooks written by renowned authors and published by reputable academic publishing houses are also valuable information sources. Frequently, chemistry textbooks provide exhaustive coverage of a variety of topics, with in-depth explanations and examples that can enhance your understanding and support your arguments.

Academic databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, and ACS Publications contain scholarly articles, research papers, and conference proceedings. These databases provide access to a wide variety of peer-reviewed literature and enable you to search for specific keywords or topics related to your assignment.

The websites of prestigious scientific organizations and institutions, such as the American Chemical Society (ACS), the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), are dependable resources for locating accurate and current information. These organizations frequently publish research articles, reports, and guidelines that can be extremely beneficial to your research process.

While the Internet provides access to a vast quantity of information, not all online sources are trustworthy. Websites and blogs may not be subjected to the same level of scrutiny as scientific journals and reputable organizations. Ensure that the online sources you use are from reputable institutions or subject matter experts.

You can ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information in your chemistry assignment by using credible sources. This not only increases the credibility of your work but also demonstrates your dedication to academic integrity and in-depth subject knowledge.

Utilize the Library Resources

When conducting research and citing sources for chemistry assignments, the library is an invaluable resource that should not be neglected. Academic libraries are information treasuries, offering a vast array of resources that can significantly enhance the research process.

Utilize the library's collection of chemistry-related books and textbooks first and foremost. In-depth explanations, examples, and theories can be found in these resources, allowing you to strengthen your understanding and arguments. Explore the library catalogue to locate pertinent books, and don't be afraid to ask the librarian for suggestions or assistance in locating specific materials.

Libraries provide access to online databases and journals in addition to literature. These databases comprise an abundance of chemistry-related scientific journal articles, research papers, and conference proceedings. Having access to these databases through the library enables you to explore a vast quantity of scholarly literature, ensuring that your research is based on credible and authoritative sources.

Additionally, libraries provide access to interlibrary loan services, allowing you to request materials that may not be in your institution's collection. Interlibrary loan services can assist you in obtaining a book or article that is pertinent to your research but unavailable at your library.

Librarians are invaluable research resources in and of themselves. They are trained to navigate the extensive information landscape and can offer expert advice on locating relevant sources, utilizing specialized databases, and conducting effective searches. Consult a librarian if you need assistance refining your research strategy or locating specific information.

In addition to peaceful study areas and access to computers, printers, and other research-facilitating equipment, libraries frequently provide quiet study areas. Utilize these amenities to create an environment conducive to focused and productive work.

Utilizing library resources enables you to gain access to a plethora of information and expertise that can significantly enhance your chemistry research. The library provides a variety of resources, including books and databases, as well as expert assistance, to help you locate credible sources, collect pertinent information, and conduct exhaustive research for your assignments.

Refine Your Search Queries

Refining your search queries is essential for conducting effective research for chemistry-related assignments. You can optimize your search results and locate the most pertinent and valuable information for your assignment by focusing on specific keywords and employing search techniques.

Utilizing Boolean operators is one strategy for refining search queries. Boolean operators such as "AND," "OR," and "NOT" enable you to restrict your search by combining or excluding specific terms. If you're researching the effect of temperature on a chemical reaction, for instance, you can use the "AND" operator to find articles that contain both "temperature" and "chemical reaction" in the text. On the other hand, you can use the "NOT" operator to exclude terms that may be extraneous to your research.

Using quotation marks is an additional method for refining search queries. By enclosing a phrase in quotation marks, you can ensure that your search results contain exactly that phrase. This is especially useful when searching for specific chemistry concepts, reactions, or theories. For instance, a search for "oxidation-reduction reaction" surrounded by quotation marks will return results that discuss this topic specifically, as opposed to general information about oxidation and reduction.

In addition, utilize the advanced search features provided by search engines and databases. These features enable you to filter your search results according to specific criteria, such as publication date, author, and publication type. By using these filters, you can focus on scholarly articles published in reputable journals or restrict your results to the most recent and relevant sources.

As you conduct research, give close attention to the search terms and keywords used in the most useful articles and resources. These terms can be used as ideas for further refining your search queries or uncovering other concepts that may help to deepen your understanding of the subject.

Remember to be adaptable and willing to modify your search queries as you acquire additional information and insights. Research is an iterative process, and refining your search queries can help you discover new perspectives and gain a deeper understanding of the topic.

You can save time and enhance the quality of your research by refining your search queries. The more specific and targeted your search, the more likely it is that you will find relevant and useful information to strengthen your chemistry assignments.

Evaluate the Quality of Information

It is essential to evaluate the quality of the information you discover when investigating your chemistry assignments. Due to the abundance of available resources, it is essential to evaluate the information's reliability, credibility, and relevance before incorporating it into your work.

An important consideration is the information's source. Assess the author's or organization's veracity. They are specialists in the discipline of chemistry. Do they possess pertinent credentials and affiliations with reputable institutions? Assessing the author's expertise and repute can aid in determining the veracity of the presented information.

Additionally, evaluate the source or medium from which the information is obtained. Is it a scientific journal with peer review, the website of a reputable academic institution, or a recognized chemistry publication? Sources with a rigorous evaluation procedure are more likely to provide accurate and reliable data.

The veracity and currency of the information should also be considered as key factors. Look for claims supported by evidence and supporting references. Check the publication date to ensure that the information is current and consistent with the current state of knowledge in the field. Since chemistry is an ever-changing field, it is essential to rely on current and accurate information.

Furthermore, evaluate the content itself critically. Consider logical coherence, consistency, and a well-balanced viewpoint. Consider whether the information is presented objectively or whether there are any biases or hidden agendas that could affect the interpretation of the data. Be wary of sensational or exaggerated claims that lack scientific evidence.

Cross-referencing the information with multiple sources is also advantageous. By contrasting information from multiple dependable sources, you can ensure its accuracy and consistency. Multiple sources that support the same findings or conclusions strengthen the reliability of the information.

Finally, contemplate the information's intended audience. Determine whether it meets your academic requirements and level of study. Some sources may be intended for the general public or contain information at a more introductory level, while others may be geared toward advanced researchers.

You can ensure that your research is based on reliable and credible sources by evaluating the content of the information. This will strengthen your arguments and conclusions and improve the validity and credibility of your chemistry assignments.

Maintain a Track of Your Sources

An essential aspect of effective research and referencing in chemistry assignments is keeping track of your sources. By organizing and documenting your sources, you can readily cite them in your work, avoid plagiarism, and uphold academic honesty.

Creating a bibliography or reference list as you conduct your research is a practical method for keeping track of your sources. Each time you discover a relevant source, record the pertinent details, including the author's name, the title of the article or book, the publication date, the journal or book title, and the page numbers. This information will be necessary for properly citing your sources in the future.

There are several tools and programs available to help you efficiently manage your references. Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote are examples of reference management software that can help you organize your sources, generate citations in a variety of formats, and create bibliographies. These tools facilitate the import and export of references, the annotation of sources, and the organization of research.

Be consistent with the citation style required by your instructor or academic institution when noting your sources. The American Chemical Society (ACS) style, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) style, and the Modern Language Association (MLA) style are common citation formats in chemistry. To ensure accurate and consistent referencing, familiarize yourself with the specific guidelines and formatting rules of the chosen style.

In addition to creating a bibliography, it is beneficial to annotate or take notes on each source consulted. Note key points, pertinent quotes, and summaries of the information to make retrieval and reference simpler in the future. These notes will help you synthesize information and effectively incorporate it into your chemistry assignments.

Remember to properly attribute ideas and information in your assignments to their respective sources. Include an in-text citation or footnote whenever you use or refer to information from a source, dependent on the citation style you are using. This gives proper acknowledgment to the original authors and allows readers to easily locate the source for further reading.

By keeping note of your sources, you can ensure that you give credit where credit is due and avoid plagiarizing unintentionally. Properly documenting and referencing your sources will increase the credibility and dependability of your chemistry assignments while demonstrating your dedication to academic integrity.

Final Statement

Research and citation are essential skills for completing successful chemistry assignments. By following these guidelines, you will be able to conduct exhaustive research, utilize credible sources, and properly cite your sources. Remember that proper research and citations not only bolster your arguments but also demonstrate your dedication to academic integrity and excellence in the field of chemistry.

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How to write your chemistry assignment| study and reference tips submit your assignment, attached files.

WashU Libraries

Chemistry writing resources, starting a lab report or research paper, general writing style information, parts of research paper or report.

• Citations and References
• Return to Main Chemistry Guide

To get started writing a research paper or laboratory report, it is important to consider if you have enough data or enough information to compose a paper.  Additionally, it is also important to consider what you want you want to report and how to report it--clear communication of results is crucial when discussing the experiments. 

This American Chemical Society (ACS) blog post on  How to Write a Research Paper provides some general guidelines to determine when to write a paper and how to get started when it comes to reporting and communicating the results of an experiment or experiments.

Every discipline has a style and format that is used for scholarly communication, and chemistry as a field has a certain format for papers as well as a a style of writing that developed as the field itself grew and information was shared and published.

General Style and Writing Guidelines:

• Chemistry is always written in the third person, in the past-tense and passive voice. 
• Pronouns like "I", "We", and "Us" are not typically used
• Be succinct when describing observations and processes
• It is not necessary to provide detailed descriptions of standard practices or techniques. 

For information on specific sections that might appear in a scholarly article or laboratory report you may wish to go to the next section in this guide that provides a summary on all the different Parts of A Research Paper and provides links to articles that provide significant detail regarding the style and content for each major section.

Note: While the resources in the guide are meant to help, it is always important to follow the guidelines of the publication or course instructor that you are writing for.

Adapted from information found in Chapter 2 of the ACS Style Guide

Additional resources and information on each sections are also provided from the journal Clinical Chemistry from the section of their journal "Guide To Scientific Writing." Click on the title for a direct link to the PDF or use the corresponding citation for each article to view the online version. All articles are open access articles.

The title should be brief and specific enough to clearly communicate the contents of the paper/research, but should not be overly technical.

• Clinical Chemistry -Guide to Scientific Writing: The Title Says it All

Thomas M Annesley, The Title Says It All, Clinical Chemistry , Volume 56, Issue 3, 1 March 2010, Pages 357–360, https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2009.141523

The byline or list of authors includes all individuals that contributed in a substantial manner to the research being reported.

Generally, the person that did the research is listed as the first author of the paper and names are traditionally formatted as "first name, middle initial, and surname"

The abstract should provide an informative and brief summary of what is written in the paper, and should allow for a reader to quickly understand the nature/purpose of the research, the methods used, the results observed, and any major conclusions that came from the research.

• Clinical Chemistry -Guide to Scientific Writing: The Abstract and the Elevator Talk: A Tale of Two Summaries

Thomas M Annesley, The Abstract and the Elevator Talk: A Tale of Two Summaries, Clinical Chemistry , Volume 56, Issue 4, 1 April 2010, Pages 521–524, https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2009.142026

An introduction puts the experiment or research into context; it should provide background regarding the question or problem being explored and using applicable scientific literature and references help explain why the question being answered or the research being pursued is relevant and/or important.

• Clinical Chemistry -Guide to Scientific Writing: It was a cold and rainy night”: Set the Scene with a Good Introduction

Thomas M Annesley, “It was a cold and rainy night”: Set the Scene with a Good Introduction, Clinical Chemistry , Volume 56, Issue 5, 1 May 2010, Pages 708–713, https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2010.143628

Depending upon the publication or style, this section has many different possible names; chose the correct name for the section based upon the publication to which the research is being submitted or the laboratory report is meant to emulate. 

This section should provide information regarding the techniques used in answering your research question and should say HOW the research question was probed or answered with enough information that another practitioner in the field could reproduce the experiment and results.  In order to accomplish these goals, the experimental section should  identify the materials used and must also provide sufficient details about characterization methods, experimental procedures, or any apparatus used  that is not standard for the field.

• Clinical Chemistry -Guide to Scientific Writing: Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why: The Ingredients in the Recipe for a Successful Methods Section

Thomas M Annesley, Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why: The Ingredients in the Recipe for a Successful Methods Section, Clinical Chemistry , Volume 56, Issue 6, 1 June 2010, Pages 897–901, https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2010.146589

The data collected or the results of the research/experiment are presented and summarized in this section often using graphs, tables, or equations.  When dealing with a large amount of data, the results section provides a summary while additional results or data can be included in a supporting information section. 

It is important to remember that in this section, the results are NOT put into context nor are the results or observations explained. 

• Clinical Chemistry -Guide to Scientific Writing: Show Your Cards: The Results Section and the Poker Game

Thomas M Annesley, Show Your Cards: The Results Section and the Poker Game, Clinical Chemistry , Volume 56, Issue 7, 1 July 2010, Pages 1066–1070, https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2010.148148

• Clinical Chemistry -Guide to Scientific Writing: If an IRDAM Journal Is What You Choose, Then Sequential Results Are What You Use

              IRDAM = Introduction, Results, Discussion, Methods in terms of order of sections. Many ACS Journals follow this format!

              IMRAD = Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion in terms of order of sections

Pamela A Derish, Thomas M Annesley, If an IRDAM Journal Is What You Choose, Then Sequential Results Are What You Use, Clinical Chemistry , Volume 56, Issue 8, 1 August 2010, Pages 1226–1228, https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2010.150961

The discussion section highlights and interprets the results or data obtained and explains how the resulting data relates to the original research question.  It explains how and why the results obtained  are significant.  It is appropriate to examine and explain why the results were observed and why the data was interpreted in a specific way. This is also the section where additional research or further work regarding the research question can be stated.

The results and the discussion can be presented as a combined "Results and Discussion" section if it makes sense to do so.

• Clinical Chemistry -Guide to Scientific Writing: The Discussion Section: Your Closing Argument

Thomas M Annesley, The Discussion Section: Your Closing Argument, Clinical Chemistry , Volume 56, Issue 11, 1 November 2010, Pages 1671–1674, https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2010.155358 '

Figures and tables should be included in the Results or the Results and discussion section and should support, clarify, and make your work more clear through a visual, organized, representation of the data collected.

• Clinical Chemistry -Guide to Scientific Writing: Put Your Best Figure Forward: Line Graphs and Scattergrams

Thomas M Annesley, Put Your Best Figure Forward: Line Graphs and Scattergrams, Clinical Chemistry , Volume 56, Issue 8, 1 August 2010, Pages 1229–1233, https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2010.150060

• Clinical Chemistry -Guide to Scientific Writing: Bars and Pies Make Better Desserts than Figures

Thomas M Annesley, Bars and Pies Make Better Desserts than Figures, Clinical Chemistry , Volume 56, Issue 9, 1 September 2010, Pages 1394–1400, https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2010.152298

• Clinical Chemistry -Guide to Scientific Writing: Bring Your Best to the Table

Thomas M Annesley, Bring Your Best to the Table, Clinical Chemistry , Volume 56, Issue 10, 1 October 2010, Pages 1528–1534, https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2010.153502

The conclusion provides a brief summary of what was accomplished in a manner similar to the abstract, but the conclusion should specifically address how the results of the research relate back to the original question or problem.

A list of the published works that were cited in the paper or report using the proper citation and reference format for the field and publication (e.g. citing and providing a reference list using the American Chemical Society guidelines).

• Clinical Chemistry -Guide to Scientific Writing: Giving Credit: Citations and References

Thomas M Annesley, Giving Credit: Citations and References, Clinical Chemistry , Volume 57, Issue 1, 1 January 2011, Pages 14–17, https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2010.158048

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Science - Chemistry 2 & 3 - Organic & Analytical Chemistry: Chemistry Reference Works

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Search UJLink: Library Catalogue

ONLINE:   Handbook of Chemistry & Physics Online, 103 ed .

The Handbook web application is divided into two main modules:

Document Mode - Search and browse the Handbook documents and tables. View interactive tables and generate graphs, export table data, etc.

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How to Write the Perfect Chemistry Lab Report: A Definitive Guide

February 11, 2020 By Guest Posts Leave a Comment

Students have to deal with multiple academic tasks, and writing lab reports (lots of them!) is one of them. Its main purpose is to explain what you did in your experiment, what you learned and what the results meant.

Performing experiments and reporting them properly is a cornerstone of on your way into learning chemistry .

But how do you write a chemistry lab report properly?

It’s now time to find out!

Our ultimate guide sheds light on the main parts of lab report writing. You ought to be aware of every section and understand how to complete them properly. Therefore, we have divided our guide into three major sections that are:

• Parts of the lab report;
• A step-by-step review;
• Writing your project.

General Information

It’s necessary to begin with an overview of the main sections that should be present on a laboratory report for chemistry.

Mind that sometimes these sections are called differently but have the same purpose. Some of the sections may be missing, but the general structure should be close to this. Everything depends on the educational institution.

It is important to know that usually lab reports are written after the lab session is finished . This means that you need to have everything previously recorded in your lab notebook . You are supposed to keep track of everything you do in the lab in your laboratory notebook, and then using that notebook to write down your lab report, not the other way around.

Reviewing Every Step

Now, we’d like to go through the main stages of a chemistry lab report. It’s necessary to add brief comments concerning each of them. Your laboratory report begins with a title page. You already know what it consists of. Let’s check how to compose it correctly. The information must be presented on the upper right-hand side of the page. All the points (the title, your name, collaborators, etc.) should be mentioned on the separate line.

Afterward comes the second part, which includes:

• The course title
• Title of the experiment
• Title of the parts within the experiment
• Semester, year, etc. (optional)

This data appears in the middle of the title page.

The next section is the Introduction and it begins with this word in the left upper corner of your report. It should consist of no more than a couple of paragraphs and end with at least one hypothesis.

The body of your project consists of the procedure, materials and methods employed; data; results and observations.  The section Procedure commonly consists of several steps that were followed for the proper conduction of the experiment(s). They could be divided in different parts, and those would describe your actions.

The section Data contains the numerical facts and Observations that provide the changes that took place. Afterwards, you move to the Discussions, in which you ought to plainly explain all the numbers, observations and collected data. Your conclusions provide an overall summary of the entire lab report, and the whole experimental session itself.

Writing a Chemistry Lab Report

The last lap in our “race” is to write a laboratory report . We have already mentioned the main constituents of the title page. Therefore, we can hit the text of your project. Your abstract appears soon after the title page. An abstract is a quick summary that sums up the whole thing (hypothesis to be proven, and conclusions that are reached). Nonetheless, you should leave some space and skip it until the entire project is finished. It is recommended to write the abstract last. The main point is that this section provides a brief review of what your lab report is about and what you’ve managed to achieve.

Main Sections

The introductory part tells your readers what to expect from the project. Write a couple o paragraphs and explain the purpose of your experiment. Including references here is also highly encouraged. The last sentence of your introduction is called a hypothesis or a thesis statement. It shows what you hope to achieve at the end of your research.

The main body consists of several parts and of course, each has its purpose. You should introduce the materials and methods you need to conduct the research. Explain your choice and how your choice helps to conduct a safe and accurate study.

Take instant records of everything that happens during the experiment in your lab notebook . Never rely on your memory!

Afterwards, you’ll interpret the data and explain it using plain words. Don’t draw any conclusions when you record data and don’t explain it in the section called Results. This function should be fulfilled in the sections Discussions or Analysis sections, which should come right afterwards.

Your conclusion makes a brief summary. It should consist of 3-4 sentences, not many more. Restate your hypothesis in other words. Mention whether you’ve achieved your initial goal and explain its value.

Importantly, do realize that if a hypothesis cannot be proven, or an experiment doesn’t give you the results you expected, it doesn’t mean that your experiment and lab session was a failure. It is extremely common in chemistry to find yourself on this kind of situations! You only need to be able to explain why you got the results that you got, and how would you go around to fix them!

Further Sections on Your Report

Don’t forget about the contributors (labmates, supervisiors…) to your research.

You should also obligatorily use some secondary sources to support your theory. Therefore, you have to cite and make references according to the assigned writing format. You can reference other articles all over your manuscript (especially in the introduction and discussion sections), but don’t forget to put them together (or at the bottom of each page), and cite them properly.

The final step is to proofread your lab report. You’re free to use reading aloud and in your head, reading everything again, and using special grammar and spelling checking applications.

To sum up, keep in mind all these guidelines when you’re assigned to write a lab report. Thus, you’ll never miss something important, which can cost you essential grades. Write each section properly to receive the highest grades for your experiment. Always be clear, cite the appropriate references, and be objective with your analysis and conclusions!

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The assignments in this course are openly licensed, and are available as-is, or can be modified to suit your students’ needs. Available answer keys will be provided to faculty who adopt Waymaker or OHM courses with paid support from Lumen Learning. This approach helps us protect the academic integrity of these materials by ensuring they are shared only with authorized and institution-affiliated faculty and staff.

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If you wish, you can include the following prompt to encourage students to complete their reading and discuss class topics with their peers.

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It is expected that students will complete the assigned textbook readings prior to posting responses to the discussion board. Student interaction is encouraged. The goal of these online discussions is to simulate the sort of group discussion that can occur in traditional classroom settings. Therefore, students must post comments to at least two classmates. In addition, the instructor may post their reaction to student comments.

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• Student discussion must be relevant to the specific question being discussed.
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Infrared Spectroscopy Absorption Table

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The following table lists infrared spectroscopy absorptions by frequency regions.

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