1898

Xenon

• One part in twenty million
• teased from liquid air
• by fractional distillation
• after nitrogen,
• after oxygen and argon,
• after krypton and neon,
• a foreign element,
• the strange one, a guest.

Atomic number 54

• Xenon lasers
• photographic flash lights
• stroboscopic lamps
• and xenon arc lamps
• for film projectors
• Xenon gas
• as an anesthetic
• a cardioprotectant
• and a neuroprotectant

Superhero

• Xena’s brother Xenon
• is invincible. To overcome
• his dark past, Xenon
• shines his powerful light
• on romantic comedies
• and the exploits of other superheros.