Final answer:
Friedrich Serturner was the first to extract morphine from opium, which is a potent analgesic used for pain relief.
Step-by-step explanation:
Friedrich Serturner was the first to extract morphine from opium and use it as a pain reliever. Morphine, which is now well-known as a powerful analgesic, was named after Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams, due to its sleep-inducing properties. Serturner's discovery marked a significant advancement in medical science, as it provided a more effective and reliable method of pain control compared to the raw opium extracts used previously.