For those of us who cook, most times we experience teary eyes when we cut an onion bulb. Have you ever wondered why this is so?

Well, when an onion bulb is cut, it's cells are broken, thereby releasing their contents. Amino acids and sulfoxides form sulphenic acids. Enzymes that were kept separate in different layers now freely mix with the sulphenic acid to produce PROPANETHIOL S - OXIDE, a volatile sulphur compound that wafts upwards towards your eyes when the onion bulb is cut. The gas reacts with the water in your tears to form sulphuric acid.

And as usual, sulphuric acid burns, which causes more tears
to wash the irritation away. This same principle is applied in the production of tear gas.

This phenomenon can be prevented by freezing the onions before cutting. It slows down the reaction and changes the chemistry of the onions. It can also be prevented by cutting the onions under water.

Henceforth, onions shouldn't make you cry...

Dioxidane

Chew guw while slicing and you won't cry.

Thanks for that Dioxidane

INTROVERT:
Chew guw while slicing and you won't cry.

Wow... Never heard of that. For real?

vickysunmomi:
Thanks for that Dioxidane

Uwc dearie...

ONE DAY I WILL MAKE THE ONIONS CRY

triopele, or tetramessi...whats my own

at O.P, could any of those chemicals u mentioned be dangerous to the eyes. I mean could it have a negative effect on the eye either immediately or after a long time.?

I was here

Firstinline:
at O.P, could any of those chemicals u mentioned be dangerous to the eyes. I mean could it have a negative effect on the eye either immediately or after a long time.?

No... There has not been any case report of permanent eye damage due to exposure to onion...