Chemicals and Drugs

Potassium

An element in the alkali group of metals with an atomic symbol K, atomic number 19, and atomic weight 39.10. It is the chief cation in the intracellular fluid of muscle and other cells. Potassium ion is a strong electrolyte that plays a significant role in the regulation of fluid volume and maintenance of the WATER-ELECTROLYTE BALANCE.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

An element in the alkali group of metals with an atomic symbol K, atomic number 19, and atomic weight 39.10. It is the chief cation in the intracellular fluid of muscle and other cells. Potassium ion is a strong electrolyte that plays a significant role in the regulation of fluid volume and maintenance of the WATER-ELECTROLYTE BALANCE.

Chemical Identity

Chemical Information

Molecular Formula
K
Molecular Weight
39.0983 g/mol
CAS Registry No.
7440-09-7
IUPAC Name
potassium
InChIKey
ZLMJMSJWJFRBEC-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES
[K]
MeSH Unique ID
D011188
Source
PubChem CID 5462222

MeSH Record

Classification

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MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

23 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analysis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemistry, classification, economics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, physiology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

/blood: note also HYPERKALEMIA and HYPOKALEMIA; POTASSIUM, DIETARY is also available

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Potassium. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D011188. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D011188
  2. Potassium. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium
  3. Potassium. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q703
  4. Potassium. In: PubChem Compound. CID 5462222. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5462222