In a dry cell of zinc-nickel, the proper electrode reactant on the anode side is zinc. The anode is typically made of zinc metal, which undergoes oxidation to produce electrons. On the cathode side, the proper electrode reactant is nickel oxide (NiO2) or a mixture of nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) and graphite, known as the cathode paste. Nickel oxide or nickel hydroxide acts as a positive charge carrier, attracting the negatively charged electrons from the anode. The combination of these electrodes and the electrolyte (usually potassium hydroxide) constitute the chemical reactions that power the dry cell.
