C10H10O4S

C10H10O4S is the molecular formula for several chemical compounds, including saccharin. Saccharin is a synthetic sweetener, approximately 300 to 400 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar). It was discovered accidentally in 1879 by Constantin Fahlberg, a chemist working in the laboratory of Ira Remsen at Johns Hopkins University. The compound is produced industrially through various synthetic routes, typically starting from toluene.

Saccharin is a white crystalline solid that is soluble in water and alcohol. It is often used as a non-nutritive sweetener in diet foods and beverages, as well as in pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Its metabolic pathway is such that it is not absorbed by the body and is excreted unchanged, making it calorie-free. Despite its widespread use, there was historical debate regarding its safety, particularly concerning potential links to cancer, which were largely addressed by scientific research and regulatory reviews that concluded it is safe for consumption within acceptable daily intake levels. Other compounds with the formula C10H10O4S may exist, but saccharin is the most commonly encountered and well-known.