chemistry lovers

EXAMPLE emission of energy by atom Parrots, which are renowned for their vibrant colors, apparently have a secret weapon that enhances their colorful appearance—a phenomenon called fluorescence. Fluorescence occurs when a substance absorbs ultraviolet (UV) light, which is invisible to the human eye, and converts it to visible light. This phenomenon is widely used in interior lighting in which long tubes are coated with a fluorescent substance. The fluorescent coating absorbs UV light (produced in the interior of the tube) and emits intense white light, which consists of all wavelengths of visible light. Interestingly, scientists have shown that parrots have fluorescent feathers that are used to attract the opposite sex. Note in the accompanying photos that a budgerigar parrot has certain feathers that produce fluorescence. Kathryn E. Arnold of the University of Glasgow in Scotland examined the skins of 700 Australian parrots from museum collections and found that the feathers that showed fluorescence were always display feathers—ones that were fluffed or waggled during courtship. To test her theory that fluorescence is a significant aspect of parrot romance, Arnold studied the behavior of a parrot toward birds of the opposite sex. In some cases, the potential mate had a UV-blocking substance applied to its feathers, blocking its fluorescence. Arnold’s study revealed that parrots always preferred partners that showed fluorescence over those in which the fluorescence was blocked.