AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RELIABILITY OF ATOMIC-WEIGHT DATA-BASED ON SUCCESSIVE EVALUATIONS BETWEEN 1967 AND 1993

The reliability of the (standard) atomic-weight (mean atomic mass) val ues is quantified based on the analysis of changes made from published improved measurements as they become available for each periodic eval uation. This numerical analysis tests the evaluation procedures and th e current reliability of the tables published by the International Uni on of Pure and Applied Chemistry. One instance of faulty evaluation is high-lighted. The post facto test of past performance of evaluations might under appropriate conditions also serve for other data sets such as the fundamental constants of physics or property data for pure ele ments.