Minerals are essential nutrients that are required by an organism. They are obtained from the foods eaten; in certain deficiencies, a supplement may be taken. Macrominerals are needed in large quantities (sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, and chloride) and trace minerals (iron, copper, iodine, zine, manganese, fluoride, chromium, selenium, molybdenum, cobalt, vanadium, silicon, and nickel) are needed in small quantities.