Abstract: A method is disclosed for preparing ammonium hydroxyalkyl sulfonate by a process of reacting ammonium bisulfite and alkylene oxide wherein the pH is maintained at a relatively low value throughout most of the time of reaction of ammonium bisulfite and alkylene oxide in order to minimize the quantity of impurities, e.g. alkylene glycol and alkanolamine, in the ammonium hydroxyalkyl sulfonate. Ammonium alkanoyl alkyl sulfonates prepared by reacting such ammonium hydroxyalkyl sulfonates with fatty acids form aqueous solutions which are clear at ambient temperatures, and thus are useful as surfactants in clear liquid products.