Why do slicing onions produce tears?!
Why do slicing onions produce tears?
Answers:
When you slice through an onion, you break open a number of onion cells. Some of these cells have enzymes inside of them, and when they are sliced open, the enzymes escape. The enzymes then decompose some of the other substances that have escaped from sliced cells. Some of these substances, amino acid sulfoxides, form sulfenic acids, which then quickly rearrange themselves into a volatile gas.
The gas reaches your eyes and reacts with the water that keeps them moist. This changes the chemical's form again, producing, among other things, a mild sulfuric acid, which irritates the eyes. The nerve endings in your eyes are very sensitive and so they pick up on this irritation (this is why our eyes sting when we slice onions). The brain reacts by telling your tear ducts to produce more water, to dilute the irritating acid so the eyes are protected. Your other reaction is probably to rub your eyes, but this will actually make the irritation a lot worse, of course, if you have onion juices all over your hands.
Source(s):
http://science.howstuffworks.com/questio...
the vapors released by the onions cause tear ducts to water... tears
Chlorine gas
http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/...
It's actually sulfuric acid produced when you slice the onion.
compounds in the onions form sulphuric acid in your eyes
It's the aroma,sulfiric acid,try placing it in the freezer for about 15 minutes or so before you cut it.
hey...u know what helps when it comes to that! chew gum!! i'm serious...it worked for me
It is a mild allergic reaction-the liquid irritates the eyes causing watering. You can try cutting off the root end first or chilling in the fridge to reduce the liquid the most popular way to reduce tears is a toss up between a food processor and buying them prechopped.
As onions are sliced, cells are broken open. Onion cells have two sections, one with enzymes called alliinases, the other with sulfides (amino acid sulphoxides). The enzymes break down the sulphides and generate sulphenic acids. Sulphenic acids are unstable and decompose into a volatile gas called syn-propanethial-S-oxide. The gas then dissipates through the air and eventually reaches one's eye, where it will react with the water to form a mild solution of sulphuric acid. The sulphuric acid irritates the nerve endings in the eyes, making them sting. The tear glands then produce tears in response to this irritation, to dilute and flush out the irritant.
because of sulpher dioxide gas
u cut ur self and feel it
pevention:light a candle nearby
I find what helps reduce the fumes is, after slicing off the 2 ends of the onion then slicing it in half, putting it under a running tap. Then peel off the outer layers and rinse it again.
This seems to stop the biggest open surface areas from releasing the vapors, and i can usually chop my way through the rest of the onion before the tears start too much.
As onions are sliced, cells are broken open. Onion cells have two sections, one with enzymes called alliinases, the other with sulfides (amino acid sulphoxides). The enzymes break down the sulphides and generate sulphenic acids. Sulphenic acids are unstable and decompose into a volatile gas called syn-propanethial-S-oxide. The gas then dissipates through the air and eventually reaches one's eye, where it will react with the water to form a mild solution of sulphuric acid. The sulphuric acid irritates the nerve endings in the eyes, making them sting. The tear glands then produce tears in response to this irritation, to dilute and flush out the irritant.
I guess its the fumes from the onion.
erm.......why? i dnt know that but the solution 4 that is whilst cutting onions leave the cold water tap running.:)
d sulphuric acid..............n plz those r not tears.its juzt d water of ur eyes n yes if that water r called tears..............not my prob.....anyways go 4r a chicklet at that time.........it helpz......meow said it right.........