Final answer:
Fabric or medicine that is artificially made is referred to as synthetic. Synthetic materials are created through chemical processes and are essential in textiles and the pharmaceutical industry. These materials replicate or enhance properties found in natural products and ensure consistency and scalability in their production.
Step-by-step explanation:
If something, such as fabric or medicine, is artificially made, we categorize it as a synthetic product. The term synthetic refers to substances that are not found in nature but are created through chemical processes by human intervention. These substances include a wide range of materials and chemicals used in various industries, such as polymeric macromolecules like nylon and polyester in textiles and synthetic compounds in the pharmaceutical industry.
Synthetic fibers, for instance, are produced using chemical processes and synthetic polymers, which are long, repeating chains of molecules. These have become essential in our everyday lives, offering alternatives to natural fibers with different properties like durability and resistance to water. For example, polypropylene yarn used for making synthetic fabrics is often dyed, which is an environmentally friendlier process than the traditional dyeing of natural fibers like cotton.
In medicine, many compounds that are naturally occurring in plants and organisms are studied for their therapeutic properties. Once discovered, these natural compounds can be reproduced synthetically in laboratories. Over the years, medicines like aspirin and antibiotics have transitioned from being extracted from natural sources to being largely produced synthetically, ensuring a consistent and scalable supply of vital medications.