A zinc–carbon battery (or carbon zinc battery in U.S. English) is a dry cell primary battery that provides direct electric current from the electrochemical reaction between zinc (Zn) and manganese dioxide (MnO2) in the presence of an ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) electrolyte. It produces a voltage of about 1.5 volts between the zinc anode, which is typically constructed as a cylindrical container for the battery cell, and a carbon rod surrounded by a compound with a higher Standard electrode potential (positive polarity), known as the cathode, 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.
Old 3 V zinc–carbon battery (around 1960), with cardboard casing housing two cells in series.
Progressive corrosion of zinc–carbon batteries
Disassembled zinc chloride cell (similar to zinc carbon cell). 1: entire cell, 2: steel casing, 3: zinc negative electrode, 4: carbon rod, 5: positive electrode (manganese dioxide mixed with carbon powder and electrolyte), 6: paper separator, 7: polyethylene leak proof isolation, 8: sealing rings, 9: negative terminal, 10: positive terminal (originally connected to carbon rod).
A dry cell is a type of electric battery, commonly used for portable electrical devices. Unlike wet cell batteries, which have a liquid electrolyte, dry cells use an electrolyte in the form of a paste, and are thus less susceptible to leakage.
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