RSC style

The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) style is an in-house referencing style used across RSC journals. The guidance on this page covers key aspects of using the style but is not comprehensive. See the RSC’s online guide for further guidance on using this style.

Citing sources in your text

In-text numbering and endnotes

The RSC style of referencing is notes based. It requires you to use superscript numbers in your text when you’re citing a source:

...the Royal Society of Chemistry was formed in 1980.1

The numbers correspond to a full reference given in an endnote. Endnotes are set out at the end of the piece of work (or at the end of each chapter for books).

Formatting in-text numbers

Order your reference numbers as they appear in your text. This sequence should include any figures or images you include from other works, which should be cited within the image or figure’s caption.

The reference numbers should usually be given at the end of the sentence (after the punctuation), but they can also be placed after a relevant word or compound:

...hydrocarbons7 formed in the process.

If you need to add a reference number after a word/compound which already has a superscript number, add a space before giving the reference number:

...producing Pd4 11.

Referencing multiple works at once

If a statement has multiple references, give a reference number for each citation, separated by a comma:

...as indicated by multiple research studies.13,14

If there are more than two citations, and the reference numbers are consecutive, give the range of referencing numbers with a dash:

...evident in microbiological research.15-18

Naming authors

When naming authors in your text, only use their surname. Do not include their forenames or initials. For works with three or more authors, name the first author followed by et al. (in italics).

Creating your reference list

  • You should list your references at the end of your work as endnotes.
  • List your references numerically, in the order they appear in your text.
  • Give the surnames and initials of all authors (do not use et al. in your reference list).

Journals

When referencing journal articles in RSC style:

  • you do not need to include the title of the article.
  • give the recognised abbreviation for the journal where possible. You can search for the official journal abbreviation through the Chemical Abstracts Service Source Index (CASSI).
  • if you cannot find a recognised abbreviation for the journal, use the full journal title.
  • give the volume number in bold.
  • if a journal article does not have volume/page numbers, give the DOI instead.

Citation Order and Format

Authors’ initials and surnames, Journal Title, year of publication, volume number, page range.

Examples

1 J. Cuní, P. Cuní, B. Eisen, R. Savizky and J. Bové, Anal. Methods, 2012, 4, 659–669.

2 R. C. Hider and X. Kong, Nat. Prod. Rep., 2010, 27, 637–657.

3 S. W. Nam, T. H. Nguyen, D. T. Tran, V. A. Dinh, T. T. N. Ta, C.-L. Dong, N. H. Kim and J. H. Lee, Energy Environ. Sci., 2024, DOI:10.1039/D4EE02868F.

Books

Citation Order and Format

Authors’ initials and surnames, Book Title, Publisher, Publisher Location, Year of Publication.

Examples

1 P. N. Lens and P. Uddandarao, Nanobiohybrids for Advanced Wastewater Treatment and Energy Recovery, IWA Publishing, London, 2023.

2 S. Q. Yao and M. Uttamchandani, Small Molecule Microarrays: Methods and Protocols, Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, 2010.

Book chapters

When referencing a book chapter, you should include the author(s) of the chapter and the editor(s) of the full book. Use the abbreviation ‘ed.’ before listing the editor(s) of the book. If the book has no editors, this can be left out.

Citation Order and Format

Authors’ Initials and Surnames, in Book Title, ed. Editor Name(s), Publisher, Publisher Location, edition if not the first, Year of Publication, volume if applicable, ch. chapter number, pp. page range.

Examples

1 F. Merza, A. Taha and T. Thiemann, in Alkenes, ed. R. Davarnejad and B. Sajjadi, IntechOpen, Rijeka, Croatia, 2018, ch. 1, pp. 4–40.

2 J. Barker, in Catalyst Deactivation, ed. B. Delmon and C. Froment, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2nd edn, 1987, vol. 1, ch. 4, pp. 253–255.

Online databases and websites

Citation Order and Format

Database/Website name, URL, (date accessed).

Examples

1 The Royal Society of Chemistry, https://www.rsc.org/, (accessed 20 August 2024).

2 PubChem, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/, (accessed 21 July 2024).

Theses

Citation Order and Format

Authors’ Initials and Surnames, PhD thesis, University Name, Year.

Examples

1 B. Liu, PhD thesis, The University of Wisconsin, 2024.

2 M. K. Molloy, PhD thesis, University of Sussex, 2019.

Patents

Citation Order and Format

Patentee(s), Patent issuer., Patent number, Year.

Examples

1 H, N. Mohamed, GB Pat., 2617298B, 2024.

2 J. M. Guerra, US Pat., 20090116095A1, 2009.

3 G. Chen, Z. Shang and Z. Li, Chin. Pat., 101229514B, 2010.

4 Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation and University of Tokyo, Jpn. Pat., 2012187520A, 2012.

5 I. J. Mulligan, G. Z. Grudic and S. L. Moulton, US Pat., 11857293B2, 2024.