General
Pure and Applied Chemistry is the official monthly Journal of IUPAC, with responsibility for publishing works arising from those international scientific events and projects that are sponsored and undertaken by the Union. The policy is to publish highly topical and credible works at the forefront of all aspects of pure and applied chemistry, and the attendant goal is to promote widespread acceptance of the Journal as an authoritative and indispensable holding in academic and institutional libraries.
Pure Appl. Chem. publishes collections of papers based upon authoritative lectures presented at IUPAC sponsored events, most usually those of plenary or main lecturers. In exceptional circumstances, determined through prior negotiation, this may be extended to include selected contributions by a broader cross-section of participants. In addition, papers or collections of papers on topics of compelling scientific interest may be published by invitation or arrangement, as Special Topic features. Unsolicited manuscripts are not normally considered for publication.
Pure Appl. Chem. is also the designated medium for publication of recommendations, technical reports on standardization, recommended procedures, data compilations, and collaborative studies of IUPAC bodies.
Dissemination of IUPAC Recommendations and Technical Reports is encouraged and there is no objection to:
- Republication or reproduction of any report or its storage and/or dissemination by electronic means. Furthermore, no formal IUPAC permission is needed on condition that an acknowledgment, with full reference to the source along with use of the copyright symbol ©, the name of IUPAC & De Gruyter, and the year of publication, is prominently visible.
- Publication of a translation into another language is subject to the additional condition of prior approval from the relevant IUPAC National Adhering Organization, and requests should be addressed to the IUPAC Secretariat.
Publication Policy for Conference Outputs
A collection of papers based upon a Conference, Symposium or Workshop is expected to capture the scientific impact and topicality of the theme, and furnish readers with an indispensable archival resource. Conference papers are typically short critical overviews of specialized topics, and authors have considerable latitude in emphasizing review content or disclosing hitherto unpublished findings. Pure Appl. Chem. aspires to offer readers distinctive insights into new science that complement rather than compete with or replicate those published in the primary research literature.
A critical overview based upon a plenary presentation may occupy up to perhaps 12 Journal pages, whereas other forms of Conference presentation will usually be shorter (6 to 8 Journal pages), and may even incorporate a short experimental section to exemplify and underpin new findings. However guidelines on manuscript content and length are applied flexibly, and authors are welcome to explore the scope for departing from these guidelines, in consultation with the Scientific Editor.
Much emphasis is placed upon representative, timely and scientifically useful publication of Conference outputs. Accordingly, invited authors are encouraged to make every effort to participate, and to adhere to the prescribed timetable for submission of manuscripts.
Peer Review of Conference Outputs
All manuscripts based upon Conference outputs are subjected to peer review. Authors are strongly encouraged to facilitate this process by nominating up to three prospective referees whose critical evaluation they would appreciate.
Some or all of these referees may be approached to assist the Conference Editor and/or Scientific Editor in assessing and preparing manuscripts for publication. The Conference Editor may exercise the option to manage peer review of plenary or main lecture manuscripts as a function of the Organizing Committee. Alternatively, the responsibility for managing peer review may be delegated to the Scientific Editor, who will consult referees nominated by authors or the Conference Editor.
Special Topics
Any individual or interest group involved in IUPAC activities may submit proposals to the Scientific Editor, for consideration as Special Topics. A decisive prerequisite is compelling scientific interest. New and emerging sub-disciplines of the chemistry are appropriate candidates, and multidisciplinary interfaces offer outstanding opportunities for publicizing the societal relevance and centrality of chemical sciences. Special Topic contributions are evaluated and published in accordance with standard Pure Appl. Chem. policy and practice.
IUPAC sponsored events are the most usual source of Special Topic collections of works, which may take up to about 300 pages and occupy an entire issue of the Journal. However, shorter collections or even individual feature articles may be considered as Special Topics. Individuals are welcome to propose and motivate subjects for such consideration.
Summary of Publication Priorities
The core business of Pure Appl. Chem. is to publish representative collections of works arising from regular IUPAC sponsored events and IUPAC projects. Those Conferences having an established record of support and topicality enjoy priority, and particularly meritorious candidate topics or celebration of special occasions may qualify for Special Topic coverage.
An equally high priority is to identify new and emerging sub-disciplines that capture international attention. One-off or irregular IUPAC sponsored events may feature, and could be candidates for consideration as Special Topics.
The conditions of IUPAC sponsorship prescribe that Pure Appl. Chem. will normally have first option to publish a selection of Conference outputs. However, this does not imply an IUPAC obligation to publish, and the Scientific Editor, in consultation with Conference organizers and the Editorial Advisory Board may determine that a Conference does or does not warrant Pure Appl. Chem. coverage. Events that are concerned with routine data compilation and reportage, areas of narrow specialization or esoteric subjects of limited interest, and topics having predominantly regional or parochial content will not normally be considered for publication.
(last updated 2021-10-28)