Zinc–carbon battery

A zinc–carbon battery (or carbon zinc battery in U.S. English) is the generic “heavy duty” <a href="/facts/Primary_battery/udJP2wJ1">disposable</a> battery. It has been overtaken in recent times by the longer-lasting <a href="/facts/Alkaline_battery/gL5XUWo4">alkaline battery</a>.
A zinc–carbon battery is a <a href="/facts/Dry_cell/3Iwh09rG">dry cell</a> that provides <a href="/facts/Direct_current/r9MNUx84">direct electric current</a> from the <a href="/facts/Electrochemistry/C0RUWpBH">electrochemical reaction</a> between <a href="/facts/Zinc/80b1qgk3">zinc</a> (Zn) and <a href="/facts/Manganese_dioxide/HRwgXlUe">manganese dioxide</a> (MnO2) in the presence of an <a href="/facts/Ammonium_chloride/SfXdntlv">ammonium chloride</a> (NH4Cl) <a href="/facts/Electrolyte/4YE8bIVa">electrolyte</a>. It produces a voltage of about 1.5 <a href="/facts/Volt/KF18MXP2">volts</a> between the zinc <a href="/facts/Anode/TjYt95zG">anode</a>, which is typically constructed as a cylindrical container for the battery cell, and a <a href="/facts/Carbon/ukrgQexo">carbon</a> rod surrounded by a compound with a higher <a href="/facts/Standard_electrode_potential/YQUhbI6K">Standard electrode potential</a> (positive polarity), known as the <a href="/facts/Cathode/tqdlGayU">cathode</a>, that collects the current from the manganese dioxide electrode. The name "zinc–carbon" is slightly misleading as it implies that carbon is acting as the oxidizing agent rather than the manganese dioxide.
General-purpose batteries may use an acidic <a href="/facts/Aqueous_solution/eRNr3MH2">aqueous</a> paste of <a href="/facts/Ammonium_chloride/SfXdntlv">ammonium chloride</a> (NH4Cl) as electrolyte, with some <a href="/facts/Zinc_chloride/aYscGQL7">zinc chloride</a> solution on a paper separator to act as what is known as a <a href="/facts/Salt_bridge/z6qzSx5h">salt bridge</a>. Heavy-duty types use a paste primarily composed of <a href="/facts/Zinc_chloride/aYscGQL7">zinc chloride</a> (ZnCl2).
Zinc–carbon batteries were the first commercial <a href="/facts/Dry_cell/3Iwh09rG">dry batteries</a>, developed from the technology of the wet <a href="/facts/Leclanch%25C3%25A9_cell/jH0WYsh6">Leclanché cell</a>. They made <a href="/facts/Flashlight/WFx32GbI">flashlights</a> and other portable devices possible, because the battery provided a higher energy density at a lower cost than previously available cells. They are still useful in low-drain or intermittent-use devices such as <a href="/facts/Remote_control/A9zmkgIV">remote controls</a>, low-power flashlights, clocks or <a href="/facts/Transistor_radio/5chsStE7">transistor radio</a>, but perform poorly in devices such as high-lumen flashlights, digital cameras, and portable CD players. Zinc–carbon dry cells are single-use <a href="/facts/Primary_cell/udJP2wJ1">primary cells</a>.

Zinc–carbon battery open-in-new

Zinc–carbon battery