Acesulfame potassium (ace-SUHL-faym), also known as
acesulfame K (
K is the
symbol for
potassium) or
Ace K, is a
calorie-free
sugar substitute (artificial sweetener), and marketed under the trade names
Sunett and
Sweet One. In the European Union, it is known under the
E number (additive code)
E950. It was discovered accidentally in 1967 by German chemist Karl Clauss at
Hoechst AG (now
Nutrinova). In chemical structure, acesulfame potassium is the potassium salt of 6-methyl-1,2,3-oxathiazine-4(3
H)-one 2,2-dioxide. It is a white crystalline powder with molecular formula C
4H
4KNO
4S and a molecular weight of 201.24 g/mol.