What function does mercury perform in fluorescent lighting?
A typical fluorescent lamp is composed of a phosphor coated glass tube with electrodes located at each end. A small amount of mercury is contained in this tube, partly in vapor form. When a voltage is applied, the electrodes energize the mercury vapor, causing it to emit ultraviolet (UV) energy. The phosphor coating absorbs the UV energy, causing the phosphor to glow or “fluoresce” and emit visible light. Without the mercury vapor to produce UV energy, there would be no useful amount of light. Manufacturers have tested virtually every other element on the periodic chart to find an acceptable, equally efficient substitute for mercury in fluorescent lamps, without success.
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