The amino acid sulfoxides responsible for making you cry are absorbed from the earth when the onion grow. Onions use sulfur in the soil to create amino acid sulfoxides, which are sulfur compounds that readily turn into a gas. Sulfenic acid reacts with the onion enzymes and creates syn-propanethial-S-oxide, which irritates your eyes. This gas reacts with the eyes to form small amounts of sulfuric acid. Over the years, I’ve read all kinds of information about why this happens — your onion is too old, your knife not sharp enough — but a recent TikTok filled me in on a trick to hold down the tears while chopping onions. Your eyes produce tears as protection … Sulphuric acid makes our eyes sting, which results in more tears and the water in our eyes produces more acid thus more irritation. Propanthial S-oxide (LF, responsible for stimulating tears) and thiosulphinate (which determines the onion's flavour and leads to … These enzymes which were isolated are now free to mix with the sulfenic acids to produce propanethial S-oxide, a volatile sulfur compound gas which wafts upward and into your eyes. Amino acid sulfoxides form sulfenic acids as you slice into an onion. Your brain says, “There is something in my eye!” (Cooked onions won’t produce this same effect because the process of cooking the onion inactivates the enzymes needed to make propanethial-S-oxide.) Stable molecules in the onion’s tissues transform into a volatile, sulfur-containing gas. Interestingly, it is the same substance that gives the onion its taste. Irritation to the tear glands causes it to secrete tears continuously without being influenced by the intent and emotion to cry. a, The chemical reactions that occur when onion bulbs are cut. What is amino acid? But the process is more complicated than that. “Here I am, 20 years old, and I’m crying chopping onions,” the TikTok opens, showing someone, much like me (but, um, younger), with tears flowing over the alliums. Onion weeping theory has been narrowed down to two chemicals: syn-Propanethial-S-oxide, an irritant that stimulates the eyes’ lacrimal glands, which release tears… Flavonoids are responsible for pigments in many fruits and vegetables. This gas reacts with the water in your tears to form sulfuric acid. Acid Effect . This acid is not compatible with your tears and your eyes begin to burn. Sulfuric acid can lead to itching, burning — and tears. The chemical compounds released by the onions are allyl sulfide and they also exist in garlic and spring onions. Sulfenic acid is a restless chemical that does not quietly concede to its new form. Because sulfenic acid is inherently unstable, many different chemical reactions occur in the onion within an instant. 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