The reaction between chloroform, `CHCl_(3)(g)` and chlorine `Cl_(2)(g)` to from `C Cl_(4)` is believed to occur by this series of steps :
Step1 : `Cl_(2)(g)rarrCl(g)+Cl(g)`
Step2 : `CHcl_(3)(g)+Cl(g)rarrC Cl_(3)(g)+HCl(g)`
Step3 : `C Cl_(3)(g)+Cl(g)rarrC Cl_(4)(g)`
If this reaction is first order in `CHcl_(4)` and half order in `Cl_(2)` which statement about the relative rates of steps 1,2 and 3 is correct?

Options

A. Step 1 is the slowest
B. Step 1 and 2 must both be slow
C. Step 2 must be slower than step 1
D. Step 3 must be the slowest

Answer

C