What are the properties or chemicals that onions may have that make people cry when cutting them?
In: Biology
Syn-propanethial-S-oxide. It is produced by the onion when certain enzymes come into contact with the air.
This chemical is quite volatile and breaks down to produce sulfuric acid when it comes into contact with water. Like the water in your eyes.
The amount of sulfuric acid released is not enough to be seriously dangerous, but it is enough to cause a pain reaction and to get your eyes to start producing more water to flush it out.
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