The invention relates to zinc powders or zinc alloy powders with an inhomogeneous bulk density distribution depending on the particle size, wherein the difference of the bulk density measured according to ASTM B212 in the particle size range smaller than 75 .mu.m and that in the particle size range greater than 150 .mu.m is at least 0.5 g/cm.sup.3, and the mean bulk density of the powder, measured according to ASTM B212, ranges from 1.8 to 4.0 g/cm.sup.3. The invention is also directed to mixtures of said zinc powders or zinc alloy powders and to an alkaline battery including said powders.