POTENTIAL ENERGY:

Energy objects have because of their position and internal structure in relation to each other.

It is stored or inactive energy that has the potential (or capability) to do work but is not presently doing so.

Differences in Potential Energy of substances in solution can be caused by differences in entropy (disorder), pressure, temperature, concentration of solute particles, etc...

Any object if left on its own will move from a state of high Potential Energy to a state of low Potential Energy.