Corrosion studies showed normal dodecylamine (NDDA) to be effective as an anodic inhibitor for zinc corrosion in ammonium chloride media. Its inhibiting effect was found to be associated with adsorption on active centres of the zinc surface. The adsorption is potential dependent and the inhibiting effect diminishes with positive shift of the zinc electrode during discharge. This feature makes it possible for NDDA to be used in zinc-manganese dry batteries as a substitute for the environmentally harmful mercury (salt) inhibitor.