>Fluorescent tube do contain liquid mercury which is vaporized by the
>filaments whereupon a mercury arc is created which produces the wavelengths
>associated with the atomic spectrum of mercury and a considerable amount
>of light in the UV portion of the spectrum.
Bob, that is a mercury vapour lamp not a flourescent tube which works by the
flow of electrons in a partial vacuum between the anode and the cathode
flourescing the phosphors lining the tube and thus giving light.
I have broken both and seen what's inside !
Terry King