An alkaline electrochemical cell, preferably a zinc/air cell which includes a container; a negative electrode, a positive electrode, wherein said negative electrode and said positive electrode are disposed within the container, a separator located between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, and an alkaline electrolyte, wherein the negative electrode comprises zinc, and a branched chain fluorosurfactant. The fluorosurfactant is preferably a sulfotricarballylate surfactant with multiple fluorinated end groups.