- An alkaline battery is defined by the chemical reaction that serves as its power source, namely the reaction between manganese dioxide and zinc. The battery derives its name from the alkaline electrolyte involved in the reaction, which contrasted against the acidic electrolyte used in previous battery designs.
- In this battery design, the anode (negative) is made of a zinc powder, which offers a greater surface area and thus increases the flow of electrons. The cathode (positive) is composed of manganese dioxide. Electricity is generated by the chemical reaction between the two substances.
- The alkaline battery is a common design, with non-rechargeable AA, AAA, and 9-volt batteries all being of this design.
Most alkaline batteries are not designed to be recharged, and doing so can be hazardous as it may cause the casing to rupture. Unlike most other batteries, alkaline batteries can be disposed of through regular trash collection, but this is still not environmentally friendly due to small quantities of mercury that are used in the design's manufacture.
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