What does alkaline mean (referring to batteries)?
Enna asked:
What is the difference between an alkaline battery and a…well, non-alkaline battery? Especially, does it affect the length of the battery’s life?
What is the difference between an alkaline battery and a…well, non-alkaline battery? Especially, does it affect the length of the battery’s life?
it is just the chemistry that makes up the battery.
Alkaline verses zinc-carbon or NiCd or NiMH or Lithium etc….
jesus juice
“Alkaline” refers to the chemistry that goes on inside the battery to produce electricity. All water based batteries are either acidic or alkaline.
When used on the labels on batteries, it almost always refers to disposable AAA, AA, C, & D sized batteries.
Originally all of these sized batteries used an acidic (ammonium chloride or zinc chloride) paste. These batteries are usually labeled “Heavy Duty”. Later “alkaline” batteries were developed based on potassium hydroxide. Potassium hydroxide is similar to lye and is highly alkaline.
The alkaline batteries cost more to manufacture than the older “heavy duty” type; other than that the alkaline type are better in all regards: Better capacity, better shelf life, don’t corrode most metal contacts when they leak (unlike the old acid based ones!).