What is Phosphor?
:''The [[chemical element]] is called [[Phosphorus]] in [[English language|English]] [[File:Luc Viatour phosphore poudre.jpg|thumb|Example of phosphorescence]] A '''phosphor''' is a [[chemical compound]] that emits light when it is exposed to light of a different [[Light|wavelength]] (i.e. color). Phosphors do not contain the chemical element [[Phosphorus]], which can be made to glow a different way. This sometimes causes confusion. Phosphors are used in many types of lighting, including [[fluorescent bulb]]s where they change the [[ultraviolet]] light produced by excited [[mercury (element)|mercury]] vapor into visible light. The chemistry of phosphors varies greatly depending on what the phosphor is to be used for. Phosphors include 'glow in the dark' materials that can be found in novelties, toys, and emergency safety lighting for buildings. They are used in the screens of older style [[cathode ray tube]] televisions to make visible light from an electron beam. They can also be used to visibly detect [[ionizing radiation]]. [[Light-emitting diode]]s are devices that often use phosphors to obtain a particular color or [[color temperature]]. ==Related pages== *[[Light bulb]] *[[Light]] *[[Neon lamp]] {{science-stub}} [[Category:Light]]