A fluorescent lamp is configured so that a glass bulb has a phosphor film
formed on its internal face, and a rare gas and an amalgam pellet are
enclosed therein. The amalgam pellet contains zinc, tin, and mercury as
principal components, one amalgam pellet is enclosed in the glass bulb,
and the amalgam pellet has a weight of not more than 20 mg. The
fluorescent lamp satisfies the relationship expressed as:
45.times.(1-A).ltoreq.x.ltoreq.55.times.(1-A), 75A.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.85A,
45-30A.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.55-30A, and x+y+z.ltoreq.100, where x represents a
content of zinc contained in the amalgam pellet in percent by weight, y
represents a content of tin therein in percent by weight, and z
represents a content of mercury therein in percent by weight. This
configuration allows the fluorescent lamp to be characterized in that an
amount of released mercury that is necessary for the first lighting of
the fluorescent lamp is secured, and that the phosphor film is less prone
to being peeled due to the amalgam.