What Gas is Used in Fluorescent Tubes?

Question:

What gas is typically used in fluorescent tubes?

Answer:

The gas used in fluorescent tubes is mercury vapor.

Fluorescent tubes are a type of electric light that produce visible light by using a gas discharge. In this case, the gas used is mercury vapor. When an electric current passes through the mercury vapor, it emits ultraviolet (UV) light.

The UV light then interacts with a phosphor coating on the inside of the tube, causing it to fluoresce and emit visible light. This process is what makes fluorescent tubes glow and provide illumination.

Mercury vapor is chosen for its ability to produce UV light efficiently and for its long lifespan. Despite being an effective choice for producing light, it's important to handle and dispose of fluorescent tubes properly due to the mercury content.