The use of glass electrodes for the determination of formation constants-V Monte Carlo analysis of error propagation.

The precision with which formation constants are calculated can be quantified by a Monte Carlo technique from realistic estimates of the experimental errors in titration parameters. The resulting standard deviations are invariably much poorer than those obtained conventionally because they reflect the true effects of systematic errors on the formation constant calculation. Such effects probably account for many of the discrepancies in the formation constant literature. Better assessment of errors makes it possible to select the set of titration parameters which, when optimized, yields the result with greatest probable accuracy. It is shown that this approach can markedly reduce the differences between formation constants determined by independent observers.