Since the beginning of time, humans have used chemical reactions without understanding them. For example, ancient Greek artisans were able to smelt metal, dye fabrics, and make glass. The attempt to transform simple metal into gold and silver was known as alchemy (the forerunner of chemistry as we know it today). By mixing elements, alchemists created chemical reactions which produced new compounds. While alchemists were never able to transform anything into gold or silver, their trails helped shape the science of chemistry. Part of Chemistry: Solved by Sherlock Olmos Series.