On Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:01:14 -0500, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

If dropped? I can't remember if this one was
dropped. I wonder if that's a pattern?

Quite possibly. Many alkaline cells have a very different
construction from the older plain-vanilla (Leclance) cells. The
Leclance cell has a carbon rod in the middle, a zinc can, and
manganese dioxide plus ammonium chloride in between. Many alkaline
cells use a can pressed from carbon and whatnot, a zinc rod in the
middle, and an alkaline mixture containing fine zinc between. Dropping
an alkaline cell might fracture that outside can, leading to leakage.

Please wear good rubber gloves and proper eye protection before
attempting to saw open an alkaline cell. The KOH in those cells is
nothing to snicker at.

Best -- Terry