In a cyclic voltammetry experiment, what is measured between two electrodes?

In a cyclic voltammetry experiment, the primary measurement taken between two electrodes is the potential difference. This technique involves sweeping the potential of a working electrode while monitoring the current response that develops due to electrochemical reactions occurring at the electrode surface. The relationship between the current and the potential difference allows researchers to derive important information about the oxidation and reduction processes of the analyte being studied.

As the potential is cycled, different electroactive species can be oxidized or reduced at specific potentials, resulting in characteristic peaks in the current response. Analyzing these peaks provides insights into various electrochemical properties, such as the redox potential, reaction kinetics, and diffusion coefficients of the species involved.

Other options like temperature variations, mass loss of the sample, and magnetic field strength are not variables measured directly in a cyclic voltammetry experiment. Instead, they pertain to different aspects of physical chemistry or other analytical methods. The focus in cyclic voltammetry is distinctly on the electrical properties (current and potential) of the system.