Halogen light bulbs, incandescent light bulbs and fluorescent light bulbs are some of the more common types of light bulbs typically used in a home. Each of these light bulbs contain traces of different elements.
Some light bulbs, including halogen and incandescent light bulbs, employ filaments in their construction. Filaments can reach temperatures upwards of several thousand degrees Celsius. Most filaments are made of the element “tungsten” because it has a higher melting point than any other metallic element.
Most household light bulbs contain some type of fill gas within the bulb. Fluorescent light bulbs contain the elements “mercury” and “argon.” Halogen light bulbs can contain any number of elements from a group of elements called “halogens.” Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine and astatine are all considered to be “halogens.” Incandescent light bulbs can contain combinations of either argon, nitrogen, krypton or xenon.
Halogen light bulbs sometimes use traces of the element iodine because it deposits evaporated tungsten molecules back onto the filament which keeps the bulb from prematurely deteriorating. This process is referred to as the “halogen cycle.”
Some of the elements listed, namely mercury, is a toxic material that should be handled with care. Exposure to the elemental mercury in fluorescent light bulbs can result in respiratory failure and even death. Before cleaning up a broken fluorescent bulb, people should exit the room for a few minutes to give the mercury time to dissipate.