Can water shock?

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I was cleaning out a drawer that had an ashtray with a few batteries in it. There was some sticky mess in it and around the battery. It was clear, the battery was dated 2017 and I don't know if its at fault for this or not.

So, a minute later I gather the rest of the batteries and put in my pocket. I go to wash my hands and as soon as water hit my finger I felt a jolt.


AA and AAA bats in my pocket, sticky on my hands and a cascade of water could have done this?
 
Doubtful.

Your body is a conductor (y'know, the blood-is-like-seawater thing) and the batteries might have been active, but, though they could make a local circuit, I don't see why/how that would involve your hand.

Possibly you had coincidentally acquired a static charge, which discharged through hands/water/tap to earth. The goo on your hands might increase local conductivity, or be irrelevant.

Seems a bad idea to put leaky batteries in your pocket though. Even if they are dead, that stuffs probably bad for clothes, skin, etc. If live, a short could generate quite a lot of local heat.
 
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Nah, if a car battery can't shock you the I dought a handful of remote battery can. Water or not, as stated above I'm going to agree with static charge. Winter seems to be the season for it.
 
ordinary digits/limps/fingers shall begin to feel that tingling sensation with 45V DC and upwards.

a moist tongue will feel that tingling sensation with 9V cell.

1.5V DC dry cell? doubtful.

Q.
 
Voltage was WAY, WAY too low for a shock.

Don't put batteries in your pocket - they could short and heat up and puke caustic chemicals - Esp a 9v or a rechargeable Li. phone unit.

Be careful out there!
 
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