Potassium is a mineral that is essential for the human body. It is a basic electrolyte, a term that refers to a substance that dissolves in ions (charged particles) in a solution, making it capable of conducting electricity. The normal functioning of the body depends on the strict regulation of potassium concentrations both inside and outside the cells. It is the third most abundant metal in the body with the largest percentage being stored in the intracellular space, where it plays an important role in various cellular processes and in the balance of fluids and electrolytes. The amount of potassium in the body is distributed mainly within the cells where it affects the movement of electrolytes and water between the intracellular and the extracellular space.