Rayon is a synthetic fiber made from regenerated cellulose sources like wood. It has the same molecular structure as cellulose. There are different production methods for rayon, including using alkali and carbon sulfide solutions or ammoniacal copper salt solutions to solubilize the cellulose. Rayon was first invented in the late 1800s by French scientist Hilaire de Chardonnet as an artificial silk called viscose. While rayon has properties similar to natural fibers, there are also environmental and health concerns with its production process.