saccharin

n. sweet-tasting crystalline compound used as a calorie-free sugar substitute (Chemistry)

Saccharin is the oldest artificial sweetener. The basic substance, benzoic sulfinide, was produced in 1878 by Constantin Fahlberg, a chemist working on coal tar derivatives in Ira Remsen's laboratory at the Johns Hopkins University, and it was he who, accidentally, discovered its intensely sweet nature. Fahlberg and Remsen published articles on benzoic sulfinide in 1879 and 1880. In 1884, now working on his own in New York City, Fahlberg applied for patents, in several countries, describing methods of producing this substance that he named saccharin. Fahlberg would soon grow wealthy, while Remsen merely grew irate, believing that he deserved credit for substances produced in his laboratory. On the matter, Remsen commented, "Fahlberg is a scoundrel. It nauseates me to hear my name mentioned in the same breath with him."
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Saccharin /sac·cha·rin/ a white, crystalline compound several hundred times sweeter than sucrose; used as the base or the calcium or sodium salt as [more]Saccharin - Community and Resources

Noun
1. a crystalline substance 500 times sweeter than sugar; used as a calorie-free sweetener
(hypernym) sweetening, sweetener

n. saccharin, saccharine, benzosulfimide, calorie-free sugar substitute for sufferers of diabetes and for those who are dieting, sweet-tasting crystalline compound used as a calorie-free sugar substitute, natural sweetener (Chemistry)

adj. saccharic, derived from a saccharine substance, derived from saccharic acid (Chemistry)