What are the Key Components of an Alkaline Battery?
Every battery requires two electrodes — an anode and a cathode — and an electrolyte. Electrons flow between the electrodes outside the battery and through the electrolyte inside the battery. The closed circuit created by these two electron flows use up the chemical energy of the electrolyte and produce electrical power in the process. This process is the same, whether it takes place in an alkaline battery or in a zinc-carbon battery. In an alkaline battery, the anode, or the positive electrode of the battery, is comprised of zinc powder. Zinc is used in a powder form because the granules have a high surface area, allowing for an increased rate of reaction and higher electron flows. Zinc oxide is sometimes added to limit the corrosion of the anode. Manganese dioxide is used as the cathode, or negative electrode. It occurs in nature as the mineral pyrolusite, and is typically used in a powder form as well. Graphite is also added to the cathode, to improve conductivity. Potassium hydroxid
