Aspartame Vs Saccharin Essay

These two sweeteners are controversial ingredients in two of the most popular substitutes for traditional sugar, Equal and Sweet & Low. However no matter how popular these sweeteners are, many scientists have condemned the effects of these dangerous ingredients. Aspartame and Saccharin have unique compositions that are different than any other sweetener ingredient. While aspartame’s sweetness is very similar to sucrose in multiple ways, many people find that aspartame is sweeter than sucrose. Aspartame’s unique sweetest can be attributed to its special ingredient of aspartyl-phenylalanine methyl ester. The scientist Dr. Searle was working on an experiment that required him to heat a mixture of hydrolyzed aspartame, who’s sweetest was unknown at the time. He mixed the heated aspartame with methanol and in the process got some power on his hands. Later, when licking his fingers, he noticed an unusual sweetness. After going through all possible explanations he decided on the special ingredient. Aspartame’s official chemical composition is C14H18N2O5, and the molecular weight is 294.31 g/mol. Another popular ingredient in sweetener is saccharin. Saccharin is a crystalline cyclic imide and is used for a sweetening agent in the form of a soluble sodium derivative. Saccharin’s official chemical composition is C7H5NO3S, and the molecular weight is 183.1845 g/mol. Both of these popular ingredients in sweetener have complex chemical compositions.
Like the chemical composition of aspartame and saccharin, their structures are very complex and …show more content…
Neither of these ingredients are dangerous in small amounts, but it is proven that in large quantities they are unhealthy. Not only should these sweeteners be avoided, but also drinks such as: Diet Coke, sugary juices, and regular Coke. Aspartame and saccharin’s unhealthy and dangerous side effects should be taken seriously by