A zinc/air depolarized cell wherein the anode comprises zinc particles, aqueous alkaline electrolyte, and pyrophosphate based (P.sub.2O.sub.7).sup.4- additive. The cell may be in the form of a button cell. The addition of a pyrophosphate containing additive to the zinc anode improves the cell's service life regardless of whether the zinc is amalgamated with mercury or contains zero added mercury. The pyrophosphate based on (P.sub.2O.sub.7) content preferably comprises between about 0.001 and 2 percent by weight of the anode.