Synthetic

Synthetic, substance created by chemical processing and used as a substitute for naturally occurring substances. Synthetic fibers such as acrylic and nylon are used as substitutes for silk, cotton, linen, and wool. Plastics, which are all synthetics, replace glass, wood, metal, and other materials. Synthetics are often produced from carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and other elements by polymerization, which creates extremely large molecules. Rayon, a synthetic fiber, results from dissolving and extruding cellulose, which is one of the main components of wood. Properties of synthesized materials can be controlled to suit their intended form and function.