(Originais Teachy 2023) - Question Very Hard of Chemistry

When observing the occurrence of a nuclear reaction in a laboratory, a group of scientists noticed that, in addition to gamma radiation, a new element was formed. From the analysis of the reaction products, they could infer that it was a nuclear fission reaction, where a heavy nucleus splits into smaller nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy. The original nucleus was an isotope of uranium, which when hit by a neutron, transformed into a new element and released three new neutrons, continuing the chain reaction. Considering that uranium-235 is a fissile isotope, identify: (1) The new element formed in the reaction, justifying your answer based on the laws of conservation of mass and atomic number. (2) Discuss the ethical and environmental implications of the controlled use of nuclear fission reactions in energy generation, considering the nuclear accidents that have already occurred and the production of radioactive waste. Also, evaluate the possibility of applying nuclear fusion as an energy alternative, comparing it to fission in terms of safety and environmental sustainability.