Why do onions make us cry?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: They release gas forming acid
They contain spicy chemicals — Wrong. While onions do have strong compounds, it's not just 'spiciness' causing tears. The specific mechanism involves a chemical reaction that produces sulfuric acid in your eyes.
They release gas forming acid ✓ — Correct! When you cut onions, enzymes are released that react with sulfur compounds to create a gas. This gas reaches your eyes and reacts with your tears to form sulfuric acid. Your eyes produce more tears to wash away the irritation. Chilling onions helps reduce this reaction!
The smell triggers tears — Wrong. It's not the smell that triggers tears. The gas from onions chemically reacts with the moisture in your eyes to form acid, which causes the irritation and tearing.
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