Why Do Onions Make You Cry?

Tears before tea-time

Onions are delicious and find their way into hundreds of our everyday recipes; however they have that unfortunate knack of making us cry – but what are the reasons for this?

Bytesize Science has gotten to the bottom of this teary phenomenon by looking at the onion’s biochemistry. It appears that the same chemicals that give these vegetables their distinctive taste are the same compounds that also make us cry. Chopping into onions causes the release of chemical compounds and enzymes, which interact to produce the gas 'syn-Porpanethial-S-oxide'. It is this gas that is a lachrymatory agent, which means it causes irritation to the eyes and triggers the tearing response.

However worry not, Bytesize Science has uncovered a few scientifically sound tips for preventing this irritation, but you’ll have to watch the video to find out how.

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