A conservator is working to restore a large marble statue from a Greek temple by scrubbing it with water and soap. What is a likely drawback to this preservation?

Question

1. breaking off large sections of marble during scrubbing
2. removing the aged look of the statue during scrubbing
3. wearing off small bits of marble with the scrubbing
4. breaking down the chemical composition of the marble with scrubbing

Answer 1

The likely drawback to the preservation method of scrubbing a large marble statue with water and soap is:

3. wearing off small bits of marble with the scrubbing

Scrubbing can lead to abrasion, which can wear away the surface of the marble over time, potentially damaging the statue's details and surface texture.