Final answer:
Paul Ehrlich was one of the earliest researchers to use chemicals to kill microbial pathogens, leading to the discovery of Salvarsan, the first antimicrobial agent against syphilis.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the earliest researchers to explore the use of chemicals to kill microbial pathogens was Paul Ehrlich. Dr. Ehrlich conducted pioneering work in the early 20th century to discover compounds capable of selectively targeting infectious microbes. In 1909, with the help of his colleague Sahachiro Hata, he discovered Salvarsan, the first magic bullet drug to treat syphilis caused by Treponema pallidum.
Ehrlich's approach to screening numerous compounds for their antimicrobial properties laid the foundation for modern antimicrobial discovery. The systematic method they used has continued to influence the development of new drugs for treating microbial infections to this day. Salvarsan, an arsenic-based compound also known as Compound 606, represents a significant milestone in the field of medicine and the fight against bacterial infections.