Final answer:
The first antibiotic to be utilized was Salvarsan, discovered in 1910 by Paul Ehrlich for treating syphilis. This predates the discoveries of sulfanilamide and penicillin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first antibiotic to be utilized was Salvarsan, which was discovered in 1910 as a treatment for syphilis. Developed by Paul Ehrlich and his assistant Sahachiro Hata, Salvarsan was an arsenic-based compound, also known as Compound 606, and was a groundbreaking discovery in the fight against infectious diseases. This was followed by the discovery of sulfanilamide, the first synthetic antimicrobial in the 1930s and then the mass production of penicillin in the 1940s, spearheading the golden age of antimicrobial therapy.
Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is A) salvarsan.