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As early as the sixth century BC , Greek philosophers discussed a system in which water was the basis of all things . You may have heard of the Greek postulate that matter consists of four elements : earth , air , fire , and water . Subsequently , an amalgamation of chemical technologies and philosophical speculations were spread from Egypt , China , and the eastern Mediterranean by alchemists , who endeavored to transform `` base metals '' such as lead into `` noble metals '' like gold , and to create elixirs to cure disease and extend life . From alchemy came the historical progressions that led to modern chemistry : the isolation of drugs from natural sources , metallurgy , and the dye industry . Today , chemistry continues to deepen our understanding and improve our ability to harness and control the behavior of matter .
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