Final answer:
Synthetic polymers, such as plastics and rubbers, have commercial advantages over naturally occurring polymers because they can be produced inexpensively. Synthetic polymers can be tailored to have specific physical properties, making them more desirable for many applications. They are increasingly used in engineering applications for weight reduction and corrosion resistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Many of the synthetic polymers we use, such as plastics and rubbers, have commercial advantages over naturally occurring polymers because they can be produced inexpensively. Moreover, many synthetic polymers are actually more desirable than their natural counterparts because scientists can select monomer units to tailor the physical properties of the resulting polymer for particular purposes.
For example, in many applications, wood has been replaced by plastics that are more durable, lighter, and easier to shape and maintain. Polymers are also increasingly used in engineering applications where weight reduction and corrosion resistance are required. Steel rods used to support concrete structures, for example, are often coated with a polymeric material when the structures are near ocean environments where steel is vulnerable to corrosion.
In fact, the use of polymers in engineering applications is a very active area of research.