Structural aspects of the passive film on Zn electrodes in an actual Zn/MnO2 battery environment have been examined in situ using Raman spectroscopy. These measurements were performed on a modified AA size Energizer battery with one of its ends replaced by an optical window but otherwise using the same components found in commercial devices. Data collected at various stages during high discharge rate (1 A) provided evidence for the presence of crystalline ZnO toward the last stages of discharge with no evidence for Zn(OH)(2) at any stage during the entire discharge process.