Alkaline+Batteries

Compared with zinc-carbon batteries of the Leclanché or zinc chloride types, alkaline batteries have a higher energy density and longer shelf-life, with the same voltage. Button cell silver-oxide batteries have higher energy density and capacity but also higher cost than similar-size alkaline cells. The alkaline battery gets its name because it has an alkaline electrolyte of potassium hydroxide, instead of the acidic ammonium chloride or zinc chloride electrolyte of the zinc-carbon batteries. Other battery systems also use alkaline electrolytes, but they use different active materials for the electrodes. Alkaline batteries account for 80% of manufactured batteries in the US and over 10 billion individual units produced worldwide. In Japan alkaline batteries account for 46% of all primary battery sales. In Switzerland alkaline batteries account for 68%, in the UK 60% and in the EU 47% of all battery sales including secondary types. They often leak potassium hydroxide, which eye, skin, and respiratory irritation. To avoid this, one should avoid using different types of batteries in one appliance, store batteries in a dry place, and remove them from rarely used objects. They have positive and negative sides which really matter to how they work. the different ways they can be made is incredible and can consist of diffferent cell numbers from 1-how everbig the battery desires to be. Alkaline batteries are used in many household items. This includes MP3 players, CD players, digital cameras, pagers, toys, lights, and radios, to name a few.
 * Alkaline batteries** are a type of primary batteries dependent upon the reaction between zinc and manganese dioxide ( [|Zn] / [|Mn][|O] 2). A rechargeable alkaline battery allows reuse of specially designed cells.

Batteries with alkaline electrolyte were first developed by Waldemar Jungner in 1899, and, working independently, Thomas Edison in 1901.The alkaline dry battery using the zinc/manganese dioxide chemistry was invented by Canadian engineer Lewis Urry in the 1950s while working for Union Carbide's Eveready Battery division in Cleveland, OH, building on earlier work by Edison. On October 9, 1957, Urry, Karl Kordesch and P.A. Marsal filed US patent (2,960,558) for the alkaline battery. It was granted in 1960 and was assigned to the Union Carbide Corporation.
 * History**

Alkaline batteries generate power by a reaction between zinc and manganese dioxide (Zn/MnO2). In an alkaline battery, the anode (positive electrode) is made of zinc powder and the cathode (negative electrode) of manganese dioxide. The most common sizes for alkaline batteries are AA, AAA, C, D, and 9v. Other sizes include 4LR44, N, A23, and A27. Most alkaline batteries have a voltage of 1.5v. Other sizes such as the A23, A27 and 9v batteries are battery assemblies of smaller cells that are 1.5v.

**Batteries**
 * All batteries work by creating electric current through the movement of charged particles between two electrodes, the cathode and anode. The differences between battery designs are in the specific electrochemistry used in a battery design: what the cathode, anode and the electrolyte medium in between them are made of will vary with particular battery types. However, the basic principles will not.

Electrochemistry

 * Most batteries that are called "alkaline" are zinc-manganese types. The anode/negative terminal is made of zinc powder. The cathode/positive terminal is made of manganese dioxide. The electrolyte is made of potassium hydroxide. The batteries are very similar to the zinc-carbon design but are an improvement in chemistry, because while they have a similar power output, they have three to five times the stamina

Recharging

 * Some alkaline batteries can be recharged. This involves putting electricity into the battery which reverses the chemical reaction between the anode and cathode, partially or completely restoring their ability to discharge electricity. However, most alkaline batteries cannot be recharged, because doing so causes their casings to rupture and leak dangerous potassium hydroxide.

In an alkaline battery, the anode (negative terminal) is made of zinc powder, which gives more surface area for increased current, and the cathode (positive terminal) is composed of manganese dioxide. Unlike zinc-carbon (Leclanché) batteries, the electrolyte is potassium hydroxide rather than ammonium chloride or zinc chloride.

Section through an alkaline battery. The half-reactions are:[10] Zn(s) + 2OH−(aq) → ZnO(s) + H2O(l) + 2e− [e° = -1.28 V]2MnO2(s) + H2O(l) + 2e− →Mn2O3(s) + 2OH−(aq) [e° = +0.15 V]



__**Recycling[[image:RecyclingSymbolGreen.jpg width="240" height="240"]]**__
In 1996, the Battery Act was signed into law to address two fundamental issues: to phase out the use of mercury in rechargeable batteries and to provide collection methods and recycling or proper disposal of rechargeable batteries. Since then, recycling rates have steadily increased. Batteries have been known to pack up landfills and with everyone's help we can prevent this from happening. The European Union has made it a law because it is so important. Find your nearest recycling depot!

You can fully recharge a depleted 9v alkaline battery at 63mA overnight without problems. You can fully recharge a depleted alkaline AA battery all day without problems. I recharged both types of batteries twice, and I would expect them to easily take many more charges. If you care about safety more than I do, attach a multimeter to the batteries and monitor them so they never reach more than 110% of their rated voltage.