A zinc–carbon battery is a 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 and hence it is the negative pole. 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. General purpose batteries may use ammonium chloride and/or zinc chloride as the electrolyte.