Why does chopping an onion make us cry?

Ever cut an onion and started tearing up? Most people do. It turns out when you cut an onion, it releases a gas called Sulphur-oxide. When mixed with certain enzymes in the onion, it creates a sulfur gas. These gases then get to your eyes and create a mild acid which irritates the eyes.

Normally, your body would signal you to close your eyes. This, of course, is not a good idea if you are cutting an onion. The next best thing your eyes can do is to make tears to protect the eyes. Rubbing your eyes is a bad idea, since your hands are likely full of the tear making onion juice.

Stop the Tears:

1- Burning Candle:

My favorite trick is to light a large candle near the cutting board. The flame will help burn off the sulfur compounds released by the onion. Or, if you have a gas stove and a steady, safe place near it where you can place the cutting board, slice the onion there. Be careful working near the flame, and don't forget to turn off the stove as soon as you're finished.

2-Freeze

Place the onion in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes before cutting it. Or store onions in the refrigerator. Cold onions release less gas.

3-Cutting under water

When peeling onions, hold them under cold running water. The water helps keep the fumes from getting to you.

Why onions need sulphur?

There is lots of debate about this. One plausible explanation is that it’s related to the amount of sulphur the onion has absorbed from the ground, which can depend on the soil and the growing conditions. Higher levels of sulphur in the soil help boost both the yield and pungency (Sharp smell) of onions.

For Science Lovers

Science behind tears:

· Onions produce the chemical irritant known as syn-propanethial-S-oxide.

· This volatile chemical is what's known as a lachrymatory factor. Its volatility means that, once it's released, it quickly evaporates and finds its way into our eyes. There it dissolves in the water covering the surface of our eyes to form sulphenic acid.

· This irritates the lacrimal gland also known as the tear gland, hence the rather grand name of lachrymatory factor. Because the amount of acid produced is so small, its effect is only irritating and not harmful.

Why onions produce propanethial-S-oxide?

· But an onion's defence mechanism goes further, producing an even more irritating chemical, propanthial s-oxide, meant to stop the plant being consumed by pests.

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