>>5446791>>5446814kinda, but that's not the whole story. I'll try and explain it without getting too /sci/.
When a molecule absorbs UV light, its electrons "jump up" to a higher-energy state.
In most compounds, this excitation causes bonds to break, releasing the excess energy as heat. This is what causes the "yellowing" on plastic that's been exposed to the sun for too long.
However, in fluorescent compounds something else happens.
Fluorescent compounds often have higher-hybridized electrons and non-bonding electron pairs within their structure, allowing excited electrons to "shuffle" around without breaking any bonds.
In this case, the electrons are free to "jump down" to their ground state, and in so doing release the excess energy as visible light.
Instead of deteriorating, these compounds actively glow.
Different fluorescent compounds emit at different frequencies, with the most common being blue, greenish-blue, greenish-yellow, yellow, and red.
Because of this, one can mix different fluorescent compounds to create plastic that fluoresces in any color desired.
Unfortunately, TLG's a buncha cheap cunts so they only make fluorescent parts using the most widely commercially available fluorescent dyes: neon green, neon yellow-green, and neon orange.
