CHEMISTRY SPEAKS: Why Do You Cry While Cutting Onions?- Daniel Adebola

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CHEMISTRY SPEAKS
On a very special day, probably your birthday, have you ever wondered why your joy turns to tears in the kitchen? You've decided to fry your eggs with slices of onions, but cutting the onions make you cry. Then you ask yourself; Why do onions make me cry? The answer is just CHEMISTRY IN ACTION. 

Onion as a vegetable, has a defense mechanism. It produces an irritating chemical substance known as Propanethial-S-oxide which prevents the onions from being eaten by pests. This substance is what is known as LACHRYMATORY FACTOR
  When you cut an onion, this sulphur gas evaporates and rises to your eyes. It dissolved in the water covering the surface of your eyes to form SULFENIC ACID. However, since the amount of this acid produced is relatively small, it's effect is usually not harmful but only irritating. The Sulfenic acid irritates your lachrymal gland (also called tear gland) which produces tears which is actually meant to wash away the Sulfenic acid. However, to prevent crying when next you cut an onion, Chemist ADEBOLA recommends that you cut your onion under water, the sulfur gas, instead of evaporating to your eyes will actually form the Sulfenic acid in the water.
Why you cry while cutting onions by Daniel adebola
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OMOYENI ADEBOLA DANIEL
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN
07080449099

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