The electrochemical behavior of the calcium anode in molten nitrates was determined using constant current methods. Investigations were made in both LiNO3 and KNO3 at 350~ and in KNO3-LiNO3 (60-40 mole percent) over a temperature range of 250~176 Differential scanning calorimetry studies were also made on calcium in many nitrate mixtures. No exothermic reactions were detected for calcium in any pure alkali metal nitrate melt; however, chemical reactions were apparent for many calcium-molten nitrate systems which cantalned added halide salts. The rate of the calcium electrode reaction is determined largely by the passivating oxide film formed on calcium in molten nitrates. The addition of halides that promote breaks in the film can greatly improve both the electrode kinetics and the open-circuit potential. With sufficient breakdown of the passivati~g layer, high current densities can be obtained for the calcium anode with very little polarization. The effectiveness of the added halides in reducing polarization generally decreased in the order I-> Br-> C1-> F-. The experimental results can be explained by a passivating layer model involving specific adsorption of anions at the CaO/ solution interface. Molten nitrates are attractive for possible use in thermal batteries due to their favorable physical properties which include low melting points and high electrical conductivities. In addition, alkali metal nitrate melts are stable over a reasonable temperature range, have low volatility, and have a viscosity and surface tension similar to aqueous solutions (1,2). Thermal batteries fulfill unique military applications which require rapid activation and high discharge rates for short time periods (3). Generally, thermal batteries operate at temperatures between 500 ~ and 600~ using the LiC1-KC1 [59-41 mole percent (m/o)] eutectic which melts at 352~ Much lower melting points are possible with nitrate electrolytes; for example, KNO3-LiNO3 (57-43 m/o) melts at 132~ and KNO3-LiNOsNaNO3 (53-30-17 m/o) melts at 120~ (1, 2). Furthermore, problems associated with formation of a calcium-lithium alloy, CaLl2, at the calcium anode in LiC1-KC1