Why do we cry while peeling an onion??
You must have noticed
that when you peel or slice onions, tears will start flowing down the
cheek. This is because when an onion is
cut, you break its cells, releasing their contents. Chemicals known as amino acid sulfoxides are released to from sulfenic acids. Enzymes in the cell, that
were kept separate, now are free to mix with the sulfenic acids, to produce a
volatile sulfur compound that wafts upward toward your eyes. 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.
Cooking the onion inactivates the enzymes, so that you don’t cry anymore! You
can also chop the onions in a bowl of water, which prevents the vapors reaching your eyes, and irritating them.
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