Onions
Can any one wonder why our eyes are tearful when we cut onions ? We use onions in our daily cooking and we must have experienced it.Yes, here is the reason.
Like most other plants , Onion is made of cells.These cells are separated by a membrane into two sections.One side of the membrane consists of enzymes , While other side contains molecules that contains sulphur compounds.
When we cut the onion, a number of onion cells break open and the contents of both sides of membrane mix together. The enzyme causes the sulphur compound, amino acids, sulfoxides to undergo a series of chemical reactions.
During these reactions , sulfenic acids are formed, which are immediately converted into a volatile gas, propanethiol S - oxide.The gas reaches our eyes and reacts with the water present in our eyes. Certain chemical changes take place inside our eyes and there is a formation of a mild sulfuric acid which causes irritation and burning sensation to our eyes.
The nerve endings in our eyes are very sensitive and hence, our eyes twinge while cutting the onion.The tear ducts in the eyes are stimulated to produce more water in order to dilute the irritating acid, so that our eyes are protected.
Number Of Ways To Prevent Our Eyes From Irritation While you Cutting onion
* One simple way is to keep our head as far away from onion as possible. So that it would disperse most gas before it reaches our eyes.
* Secondly, Peel the onion and chill it in the refrigerator before cutting , So that it would minimize a release of gas up to some extent .
* Thirdly, Dip the onion into water after peeling it off.
* We can also cut onions under water or run the tap over the onion as we cut.
But once onions are cooked,the enzymes present inside onions are inactivated and therefore the smell of cooked onion is strong and not irritating to our eyes.
Can any one wonder why our eyes are tearful when we cut onions ? We use onions in our daily cooking and we must have experienced it.Yes, here is the reason.
Like most other plants , Onion is made of cells.These cells are separated by a membrane into two sections.One side of the membrane consists of enzymes , While other side contains molecules that contains sulphur compounds.
When we cut the onion, a number of onion cells break open and the contents of both sides of membrane mix together. The enzyme causes the sulphur compound, amino acids, sulfoxides to undergo a series of chemical reactions.
During these reactions , sulfenic acids are formed, which are immediately converted into a volatile gas, propanethiol S - oxide.The gas reaches our eyes and reacts with the water present in our eyes. Certain chemical changes take place inside our eyes and there is a formation of a mild sulfuric acid which causes irritation and burning sensation to our eyes.
The nerve endings in our eyes are very sensitive and hence, our eyes twinge while cutting the onion.The tear ducts in the eyes are stimulated to produce more water in order to dilute the irritating acid, so that our eyes are protected.
Number Of Ways To Prevent Our Eyes From Irritation While you Cutting onion
* One simple way is to keep our head as far away from onion as possible. So that it would disperse most gas before it reaches our eyes.
* Secondly, Peel the onion and chill it in the refrigerator before cutting , So that it would minimize a release of gas up to some extent .
* Thirdly, Dip the onion into water after peeling it off.
* We can also cut onions under water or run the tap over the onion as we cut.
But once onions are cooked,the enzymes present inside onions are inactivated and therefore the smell of cooked onion is strong and not irritating to our eyes.
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