Bremnerium exhibits some interesting chemical properties, hitherto unobserved in any previously discovered elements. These include a propensity of some nuclear particles to reproduce through fission – most easily observed in highly charged particles called rectrons – and an ability of other nuclear particles to form sub-particles which then continue to orbit the parent particle in eccentric orbits – most readily observed in particles previously considered inert, named registrons.
These sub-registrons are found in complementary pairs, and exhibit the curious behaviour observed on an astronomical level between stars and their twin dark stars, leading the UCT chemists to speculate that one of the pair is a sub-atomic form of anti-matter, whose properties may account for the observation that other elements found in close proximity to atomic Bremnerium exhibit a sustained decrease in energy levels, with their electrons ultimately unable to sustain their orbits and then falling in on the nucleus, resulting in elemental implosion. Colleagues in the biological sciences who have observed this phenomenon have likened it to an atomic form of phagocytosis and have cautioned that the resultant gain in mass could lead to the ultimate instability of this new element as the surrounding environment becomes progressively impoverished.
The new element, Governmentium (Gv), has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.
These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons. Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert; however, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact.
A minute amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second to take from four days to four years to complete. Governmentium has a normal half-life of 5 years; It does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places. In fact, Governmentium's mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes.
This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical level of concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass.
When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium, an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.