Alkaline Vs. Heavy Duty Batteries -- the chemical difference

[derketchup]

The term Alkaline means the pH (power of hydrogen) is greater than 7, which is considered neutral. Alkaline things usually include bar soap. It is the opposite of acidic.

However, when the term "alkaline" is used for batteries, it refers to a cylindric battery that contains Zinc on the positive end and Manganese dioxide on the negative end.

Heavy duty batteries, on the other hand, contain both Zinc chloride and Ammonium chloride for the positive end, and both Manganese dioxide and ammonium dioxide for the negative end.

Heavy Duty batteries only have a shelf life of around 1.5 years, when they start to leak Zinc chloride. This is much more dangerous for humans than the KOH (Potassium hydroxide) that traditional batteries leak. Therefore, I do not recommend heavy duty batteries for long-term stockpiling. Also, disposal of heavy duty batteries is more complicated, so your regular disposal site may not be able to take them. If you live in a state where it is legal to throw away alkaline batteries with your regular trash, you probably cannot dispose of heavy duty batteries as such.

Now you probably know waaaay much than you ever wanted to know!

[MrsPinecone]

And then, of course, lithium is a whole 'nother kettle of batteries. LOL

[bugface711]

This is great information to have! thank you very much!!!

[Michelle]

Great information...it sounds like the heavy duty batteries aren't something good to use at all, really.

[derketchup]

they're fine if you're not a stockpiler and they're in a device you use constantly. They'll die before they go bad.

[Michelle]

They'll die before they go bad.

Sounds like some people I know.


Sorry...I couldn't help that.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

Thank you for the post. This also clears up some recent coupon use questions.

[mmb1996]

Your just the person I was looking for OP, someone knowledgeable on batteries. I got A LOT of batteries for free and with lots of kids and babies we use them. I like to store things taking up the least amount of room possible so I opened all the batteries up and stuck them in a huge tupperware container. Well DH saw them and laughed saying I just took away a lot of their power because they are touching end to end and that drains the power from them.

Please tell me DH is not correct, I am talking about a couple hundred dollars in batteries and I could just kick myself if this is true.

edited to say these are not heavy duty batteries

[Michelle]

This also clears up some recent coupon use questions.

It does? I'm trying to figure that one out...I don't see any reference to coupons(?).

[pennywatcher]

It does? I'm trying to figure that one out...I don't see any reference to coupons(?).

Coupons for heavy duty batteries should not be used for alkaline batteries and vice versa because they are not the same thing.