What does electric current refer to?

Electric current refers to the flow of electric charge, typically measured in amperes (A). This movement can occur through various mediums, such as wires, where electrons move from one point to another. Current is essential to the functionality of electrical devices, as it indicates how many charges are flowing past a specific point in a circuit over a given period of time. Understanding this concept is fundamental in both chemistry and physics, as it plays a pivotal role in the study of electricity, circuits, and electromagnetic theory.

The other options relate to concepts that are closely associated with electric current but do not define it. Potential difference refers to the voltage that drives the current through a circuit, a measure of how much energy each charge carries. Voltage itself, while crucial for inducing current, does not represent the flow of that charge. Resistance is the opposition to current flow within a circuit but is also unrelated to the definition of what current actually is. Thus, the clear definition of electric current is indeed the flow of electric charge.