Lithium batteries ...do they fizz?

[Heck]

People used to tell me that I had to becareful with those lithium cells, like when I disect those 223s etc....well I've been hitting them on purpose and nothing has happened so far...and now...I just went outside and put a stripped 123 into a bucket of water...and nothing is happening so far.......bah....I want something to go boom!! or atleast sizzle sizzle!! ...now I wasted a good 123......so my conclusion after my REAL scientific experiment...is that those 123 aren't as "unstable" as people has told me before...maybe I should actually try cutting into them now hehe...that I'm sure will sizzle somethign.

 

[Brock]

I can say they don't like being in a pool or hottub. It might be becasue of the Chlorine or maybe the higher temps, but they do certianlly fizz and make icky lithium smells. I haven't tried all the brands, maybe some of them have a better casing on them then others.

 

[VXO]

When my little brother ran a Photon II through the wash (which I came to inherit after the incident), the lithium coin cells didn't like it... The seal sorta just chunked out (was it water-soluble?). When I found it in after it ran through the dryer, the LED was glowing dimly. The inside of the light was covered in goop, and I think there was a bit of corrosion forming on some part (not the gold-plated leads of the turquoise LED). It was just a grand ol' mess. A quick cleanup and two new batteries later, it was good as new.

I've noticed that some newer rechargeable batteries (Rayovac Renewal and AccuRechargeable) actually seem to have cardboard seals. Getting these wet is definitely to be avoided. They won't go fizz or anything, but it'll certainly get corrosive ooze everywhere.