Final answer:
When plotting log(g±) vs √(I), a straight line is typically obtained, indicating a linear relationship on a logarithmic scale. Such a plot could suggest an exponential relationship between the variables, which is linearized by the logarithmic transformation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you plot the logarithm of the activity of an ion, “log(g±)”, against the square root of the ionic strength, “√(I)”, what you obtain is typically a straight line. This type of plot is based on the concept that certain relationships that follow exponential or power-laws can be linearized by plotting them on a logarithmic scale. For example, if the relationship between the activity (g±) and the ionic strength (I) followed an exponential decay or growth, plotting the logarithm of the activity against the square root of the ionic strength would result in a linear relationship, where the slope of the line indicates the rate of decay or growth.
A straight line can have either a negative or positive slope, which is dependent on the nature of the relationship between the two variables being plotted. From the examples provided, log-log plots are used for electromagnetic radiation relationships and radioactive decay, and linear plots are used for the activity versus time relationship, demonstrating that exponentials become straight lines on a logarithmic plot.