Aspartame. Molecular model of the artificial sweetener aspartame. Atoms, represented as tubes, are colour-coded; carbon (blue), hydrogen (white), oxyg

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Aspartame. Molecular model of the artificial sweetener aspartame. Atoms, represented as tubes, are colour-coded; carbon (blue), hydrogen (white), oxygen (red) and nitrogen (dark blue). Its chemical name is L-alpha-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester. Aspartame is about 180 times sweeter than sugar. It has no energy value and is therefore used as a sugar substitute in diet food, drinks and sweeteners. It contains the amino acid phenylalanine and must carry a warning on the product packaging. This is because people who suffer from the condition phenylketonuria cannot metabolise phenylalanine, and over-consumption can lead to mental retardation.

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Size: 4000px × 3000px
Photo credit: © DR TIM EVANS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -alpha-aspartyl--, additive, artificial, artwork, aspartame, chemical, chemistry, compound, computer, diet, energy, ester, food, illustration, industrial, industry, methyhl, model, molecular, molecule, nutrasweet, phenylalanine, substitute, sugar, sweetener, tube, tubes