It's a battery-powered life we live and it's only going to become more so as demands for producing and storing electricity continues to skyrocket. In a year, Americans buy about 3 billion dry-cell batteries. That's about 9 or 10 batteries for every man, woman, and child in the U.S. That's a large supply. That supply is also diverse in brand and type. But at the end of the day, there are two major types of batteries that most people need to power their devices: carbon zinc batteries (non-alkaline) and manganese zinc batteries (alkaline). There are a few key differences between the two that make one better than the other for certain uses. Here's what you need to know about what powers your stuff. Better Living Through Chemistry and Components There are three basic parts to a dry-cell battery: the cathode, the anode, and the electrolyte. When you look at a battery, the end with the little nub is the positive side, and the opposite end is the negative side. The positive side is the cathode which contains manganese dioxide. The negative side is the anode and consists of zinc oxide. In between the two, the electrolyte promotes the flow of electrons, or the conduction of electricity through the battery and into devices. However, the electrolyte facilitates conduction in one direction and there is an electrode imbalance that the forces of chemistry seek to correct. The buildup of electrons, which are at the negatively charged anode, can't move through the electrolyte to balance out the positively charged, electron-deficient cathode. The electrons are forced out of the battery and into the circuit of the device and power it. Then, they pass back into the cathode and the imbalance forces electrons through the electrolyte and back to the anode. What Makes Carbon Zinc Batteries Different? These batteries use an acidic paste of ammonium chloride as the electrolyte, an inert carbon bar as the positive cathode and zinc acts as the anode. In alkaline batteries, the electrolyte is an alkaline material such as potassium hydroxide. Carbon zinc batteries have less power storage and don't pack as much of a punch as alkaline batteries. However, they are much more affordable and their lower output is a key design feature for long-use, low-intensity devices such as sensors or certain types of torches. Alkaline Batteries Required for Certain Devices Alkaline batteries produce more "pop" than carbon zinc batteries. They are required for certain devices that require higher output. These include items such as electronic controllers, toys, high-output torches, and other handheld devices. Power on the Go The big takeaway here is that there are certain batteries that work better in situations. For batteries that require a certain degree of steady-as-she-goes work, look at carbon zinc batteries. For more gutsy performance, go with alkaline batteries. Reach out directly and our pros will help with whatever you need. We've had batteries for everything since 1985. See what we can do for you.