Onions and Tears

                           


Like most other plants, onion is made of cells. These cells are separated by a membrane into two sections. One side of the membrane consists of enzymes, while other side contains the molecules that consist of sulphur compound. When you cut the onion, a number of onion cells break open and the contents of both sides of membrane mix together. The enzyme causes the sulphur compound, amino acid sulfurous to undergo a series of chemical reactions. During these reactions, sulfenic acids are formed, which are immediately converted into a volatile gas, propanethiol S-oxide. The gas reaches your eyes and reacts with the water present in the eyes. Certain chemical changes take place inside the eyes and there is formation of a mild sulfuric acid. It causes irritation of the eyes. The nerve endings in the eyes are very sensitive and hence, your eyes twinge while cutting the onion. The tear ducts in the eyes are stimulated to produce more water in order to dilute the irritating acid, so that the eyes are protected.You can try one of two things to have your eyes water less when cutting


 onions...one is to cut your onion under a stream of water from your tap, the 


other is to not cut the end of the onion that has the roots on it...this will result 


in less irritant being released.

By Nageswarie, Kuganaeshwari,Anita Raj, Rajeswary