A few years ago it would have been hard to believe that there could be anything sweeter than sugar. But it was in the year 1879 that a synthesis carried out by the chemist Constantine Fahlberg proved otherwise. But let's say the discovery took place over, by a chemist's oversight.
The scientist was researching at Johns Hopkins University, located in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Lunchtime arrived and Fahlberg, in a hurry, forgot to wash his hands. The substance he manipulated left residues and he tasted it unintentionally, how sweet it was! Certainly some ester came into contact with his palate and he had just discovered saccharin, the oldest artificial sweetener. Get to know the structural and three-dimensional formula of this substance:
In 1884, Fahlberg got the patent and began mass production of saccharin.
Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
By Líria Alves
Graduated in Chemistry
Brazil School Team
food chemistry - Chemistry - Brazil School
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SOUZA, Líria Alves de. "Sweet beyond sugar"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/quimica/doce-alem-acucar.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
