碳锌电池，又称碳锌干电池、碳性电池、碳性电芯、干电池。碳锌电池有一层由锌构成的外壳，作为电池的负极。碳锌电池是从液体Leclanché电池发展而来。传统或一般型以氯化铵为电解质；“超级”或“高能”（英文标示：Super Heavy Duty）电池则通常是使用氯化锌为电解质的碳锌电池，是一般使用的廉价电池的一种改良版。电池的正极主要是由粉末状的二氧化锰和碳构成。电解液是把氯化锌、氯化铵、碳粉和淀粉溶于水中所形成的糊状物质。碳锌电池是最便宜的原电池，因此成为很多厂商的首选，因为这些厂商所销售的设备中常常需要配送电池。锌碳电池适合用于遥控器、闪光灯、玩具或晶体管收音机等功率不大的设备可发挥最大效用。

A zinc–carbon battery is a type of dry cell battery that delivers a potential of 1.5 volts. Although carbon is an important element of the battery's construction, it takes no part in the electrochemical reaction. The cell could more properly be called a "zinc–manganese" cell. The zinc can is the anode and the source of high potential electrons at a higher potential than the other terminal and hence it is marked negative. The manganese dioxide and carbon black paste is the cathode and the inert carbon rod is a non-corrodible conductor that makes the positive pole, which is at lower potential than the anode, hence it is marked with a positive sign. General purpose batteries may use ammonium chloride and/or zinc chloride as the electrolyte.