What is the Fifth State of Matter?

The fifth state of matter is actually the first phase of matter. It is called a Bose-Einstein Condensate. Matter in the fifth state is really slow moving and extremely condensed. It only exists at near absolute zero temperatures and is very fragile and unstable. It was discovered in 1995 by Eric Cornell and Carl Weiman through experimentation with rubidium, but the credit goes to Satyendra Nath Bose and Albert Einstein because they thought of the concept of this state of matter first. The only difference is that they did not have the tools available to make it possible to observe the fifth state of matter in the 1920's.

There are a number of elements which have been created into great examples of Bose-Einstein Condensates. They take different amounts of energy to produce the condensate of each element, but they each react in a similar manner. The following are great elements to use for Bose-Einstein Condensates:

• Lithium – Abbreviated to Li and atomic number 3, Silver White Alkali Metal
• Sodium – Abbreviated to Na and atomic number 11, Silvery White Highly Reactive Alkali Metal
• Potassium – Abbreviated to K and atomic number 19, Silvery White Alkali Metal
• Chromium – Abbreviated to Cr and atomic number 24, Lustrous Steel-Gray Metal
• Strontium – Abbreviated to Sr and atomic number 38, Yellowish Silver Alkaline Earth Metal
• Rubidium – Abbreviated to Rb and atomic number 37, Silvery While Alkali Metal
• Cesium – Abbreviated to Cs and atomic number 55, Silvery Gold Alkali Metal
• Ytterbium – Abbreviated to Yb and atomic number 70, Silvery White Metal