Why do onions make you cry?!
sulfur compounds. Sulfur is quite a noxious (bad smelling)
element. The compounds released are highly volatile, meaning they
quickly enter the air in their vicinity. Your eyes produce tears
because your body wants to wash or dilute the chemicals before they
effect your eyes. The tears are a natural way the body can wash
the offensive chemicals away.
Since there are a variety of onions, we would expect there to be
a variety of amounts and types of sulfur compounds produced by them.
Think of it as different types of apples: some are red, some yellow,
some green, and they all taste a bit different due to different
chemical compositions. Onions are different in that way too.
Some are REALLY bad smelling, some only mildly bad smelling.
One further bit of information. The chemicals which I described above
are both volatile AND water soluble. This means if you cut the onion
while holding it under a spray of water, the chemicals will wash down
the drain and will not enter the air in as great an amount to cause
your eyes irritation.
Answers: When you cut into an onion, you slice through cells which contain
sulfur compounds. Sulfur is quite a noxious (bad smelling)
element. The compounds released are highly volatile, meaning they
quickly enter the air in their vicinity. Your eyes produce tears
because your body wants to wash or dilute the chemicals before they
effect your eyes. The tears are a natural way the body can wash
the offensive chemicals away.
Since there are a variety of onions, we would expect there to be
a variety of amounts and types of sulfur compounds produced by them.
Think of it as different types of apples: some are red, some yellow,
some green, and they all taste a bit different due to different
chemical compositions. Onions are different in that way too.
Some are REALLY bad smelling, some only mildly bad smelling.
One further bit of information. The chemicals which I described above
are both volatile AND water soluble. This means if you cut the onion
while holding it under a spray of water, the chemicals will wash down
the drain and will not enter the air in as great an amount to cause
your eyes irritation.
the acid in the juices
idk but if you chew gum while you cut them it takes the sting out
sulfuric acid
acid from the juices
They're mean and spiteful.
th acids of the juice
The sulfuric acid that is released when it's cut. If you chew gum while cutting you shouldn't cry. It works for me. :)
yea they beat me up then picked on me till i cried!!
waaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!
You cry when chopping an onion because sulfur compounds are released and react with the moisture in your eye to create hydrocloric acid. The acid irritates your eyes and makes you cry :(
From the Wiki:
As onions are sliced, cells are broken, allowing enzymes called alliinases to break down amino acid sulfoxides and generate sulfenic acids. Sulfenic acids are unstable and spontaneously rearrange into a volatile gas called syn-propanethial-S-oxide. The gas diffuses through the air and eventually reaches the eye, where it reacts with the water to form a diluted solution of sulfuric acid. This acid irritates the nerve endings in the eye, making them sting. Tear glands produce tears to dilute and flush out the irritant.[10]
Supplying ample water to the reaction prevents the gas from reaching the eyes. Eye irritation can, therefore, be avoided by cutting onions under running water or submerged in a basin of water. Rinsing the onion and leaving it wet while chopping may also be effective. Another way to avoid irritation is by not cutting off the root of the onion, or by doing it last, as the root of the onion has a higher concentration of enzymes.[11]. Chilling or freezing onions prevents the enzymes from activating, limiting the amount of gas generated. Using a sharp blade to chop onions will limit the cell damage and the release of enzymes that drive the irritation response. Having a fire, such as a candle or a burner, will help as the heat and flames will draw in the onion gas, burn it, and then send it up with the rest of the flame exhaust[citation needed]. In the heat, the chemical changes such that it no longer irritates the eyes[citation needed]. Contact lenses prevent the irritation from occurring. The volume of sulphenic acids released, and the irritation effect, differs among Allium species.
As onions are sliced, cells are broken, allowing enzymes called alliinases to break down amino acid sulfoxides and generate sulfenic acids. Sulfenic acids are unstable and spontaneously rearrange into a volatile gas called syn-propanethial-S-oxide. The gas diffuses through the air and eventually reaches the eye, where it reacts with the water to form a diluted solution of sulfuric acid. This acid irritates the nerve endings in the eye, making them sting. Tear glands produce tears to dilute and flush out the irritant.
Supplying ample water to the reaction prevents the gas from reaching the eyes. Eye irritation can, therefore, be avoided by cutting onions under running water or submerged in a basin of water. Rinsing the onion and leaving it wet while chopping may also be effective. Another way to avoid irritation is by not cutting off the root of the onion, or by doing it last, as the root of the onion has a higher concentration of enzymes. Chilling or freezing onions prevents the enzymes from activating, limiting the amount of gas generated. Using a sharp blade to chop onions will limit the cell damage and the release of enzymes that drive the irritation response. Having a fire, such as a candle or a burner, will help as the heat and flames will draw in the onion gas, burn it, and then send it up with the rest of the flame exhaust[citation needed]. In the heat, the chemical changes such that it no longer irritates the eyes[citation needed]. Contact lenses prevent the irritation from occurring. The volume of sulphenic acids released, and the irritation effect, differs among Allium species.
Sometimes my mom makes me cry.
Isn't it obvious these veggies are such brilliant jokesters that they make you laugh till you cry?
When you cut an onion, you break cells, releasing their contents. Enzymes that were kept separate now are free to mix with the sulfenic acids .This gas reacts with the water in your tears to form sulfuric acid. The sulfuric acid burns, stimulating your eyes to release more tears to wash the irritant away.