Hydrogen overpotentials on zinc uniformly alloyed with 550 ppm Cd, Fe, Ca, and Mn, as well as 200 ppm Hg, were measured in 9N KOH at room temperature. Exchange current densities and transfer coefficients for each alloy for the hydrogen evolution process were obtained. Except for Cd, all the other impurities including Hg will cause zinc to be more readily corroded in alkaline medium.