Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

Mammoth-Mud-9609 t1_iyf49ry wrote

The action of cutting onions causes a reaction between chemicals in the onion cell walls and the cells, this produces a form of sulphenic acid gas which makes your eyes water. To reduce the impact on your eyes you can either reduce the amount of gas produced or stop the gas from reaching your eyes. https://youtu.be/KYDNbM0z_RA

3

ellipsis31 t1_iyf5o70 wrote

It's their revenge on you for cutting them. But seriously, it's meant to deter things from eating them. Which of course is one reason we (as humans) eat them, because humans are weird and we sometimes like pain. Kinda like hot peppers, they got spicy to discourage anyone but birds (who can't taste spiciness, and are the best seed spreaders) from eating them. But that kinda backfired in the case of us weirdo humans.

3

dyingdeadenough t1_iyfa4tp wrote

hmm, not surprising coming from a species who eats ass. nothing is off limits haha

1

dyingdeadenough t1_iyf4q2b wrote

wow, fascinating! i didn’t know you could reduce the amount of gas. i didn’t even think about the fact that gas is being released but it makes sense

1

Gyvon t1_iyfbho0 wrote

When an onion's cells are damaged they release a small amount of sulfurous gas (I don't know the exact compound off the top of my head).

When this gas hits your eyes, it reacts with the moisture there to create a little bit of sulfuric acid. This, obviously, would be quite painful.

1