Consider the proposed mechanism for the destruction of ozone in the stratosphere
`O_3 + Cl to ClO +O_2`
`ClO + O_3 to Cl + 2 O_2`
Which of the statements about the mechanism is/are correct

Options

A. Cl is catalyst
B. `O_(2)` is in intermediate
C. Equal amounts of Cl and ClO are present at any time
D. The number of moles of `O_(2)` produced equals the number of moles of `O_(3)` consumed

Explanation

To analyze the proposed mechanism for the destruction of ozone in the stratosphere, we will break down the reactions step by step and evaluate the statements about the mechanism.

### Step 1: Understanding the Reactions
The proposed mechanism consists of two reactions:
1. \( O_3 + Cl \rightarrow ClO + O_2 \)
2. \( ClO + O_3 \rightarrow Cl + 2 O_2 \)

In the first reaction, ozone (\( O_3 \)) reacts with chlorine (\( Cl \)) to form chlorine monoxide (\( ClO \)) and oxygen (\( O_2 \)). In the second reaction, chlorine monoxide reacts with another ozone molecule to regenerate chlorine and produce more oxygen.

### Step 2: Identifying the Role of Chlorine
Chlorine (\( Cl \)) is used in the first reaction and is regenerated in the second reaction. This indicates that chlorine acts as a catalyst in the mechanism. A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a reaction without being consumed in the process.

### Step 3: Identifying Intermediates
In the mechanism, \( ClO \) is formed in the first step and is consumed in the second step. It is not present in the final products, which makes it an intermediate. The final products of the reactions are \( Cl \) and \( O_2 \).

### Step 4: Analyzing the Statements
Now, let’s evaluate the statements based on our understanding of the mechanism:

1. **Statement 1**: Chlorine is a catalyst.
- **Correct**: Chlorine is regenerated in the second reaction, confirming its role as a catalyst.

2. **Statement 2**: O2 is an intermediate.
- **Incorrect**: \( O_2 \) is produced as a final product in the reactions, not as an intermediate.

3. **Statement 3**: Equal amounts of Cl and ClO are present at any time.
- **Correct**: The amount of \( Cl \) produced in the second reaction equals the amount of \( ClO \) consumed in the first reaction, maintaining a balance.

4. **Statement 4**: The number of moles of \( O_2 \) produced equals the number of moles of \( O_3 \) consumed.
- **Incorrect**: For every 2 moles of \( O_3 \) consumed, 3 moles of \( O_2 \) are produced, so they are not equal.

### Conclusion
Based on the analysis:
- **Correct Statements**: 1 and 3
- **Incorrect Statements**: 2 and 4