Alkaline battery leaks are one of life’s annoying little challenges. We try to fire up a device that has stood idle for a while. Then we find the alkaline battery or batteries have leaked. The gunk is all over the place and it is difficult to remove.
We simply do not think of taking the batteries out before we put a device down somewhere after using it. Ten billion alkaline batteries come off production lines worldwide annually. So this must compound into quite a problem.
What Usually Causes Alkaline Battery Leaks
Alkaline batteries have electrodes made from manganese dioxide, and zinc respectively. These are the metal bits that contact the connectors in a device.
Then they have potassium hydroxide electrolyte inside the case. This keeps the two electrodes apart and manages the flow of power.
All alkaline batteries eventually discharge themselves whether in a device or not. As they do, they generate a small amount of hydrogen gas. Eventually, this causes the case to rupture and the alkaline electrolyte inside to leak out. If cases have corroded or taken damage, then alkaline battery leaks can happen sooner. The only workaround is to recycle alkaline batteries as soon as they go flat.
How to Clean Up After Alkaline Battery Leaks
Since the potassium hydroxide electrolyte that leaks out is alkaline, we can usually remove it by using a mild acid like vinegar. Here is a neat video that illustrates how to clean out alkaline battery leaks in a flashlight. If you try it, please do remember to use eye protection and rubber gloves. Potassium hydroxide does not go well with skin.
We can reduce the risk of alkaline battery leaks by replacing all the batteries in a series simultaneously in matching sets. We should also remove them all when the device is not in use, and store them in a cool place. Perhaps we could add to take them out each time we actually stop using them. But this suggestion probably belongs in the realms of fantasy where anything is possible.
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Preview Image: Leaked Alkaline Battery
