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Name: Allyssa
Age:
From: North Carolina
Q.- Why do onions make you cry?
A.- Hi Allyssa,
Have you been cooking and crying lately?
As the onion is cut up the onion cells are broke open and enzymes escape. The enzymes decompose other substances such as amino acid sulfoxide. This creates sulfenic acid, which forms a gas that is released into the air. The gas then reacts to the water that surrounds your eyeball and causes another reaction producing sulfuric acid; this is what is burning your eyes. Then your body starts to produce tears in the tear duct to dilute the substance, which is causing it so much discomfort. By now you are crying and you haven’t even had your feelings hurt.
Do you think they try this with actors who can’t cry on cue?
So long for now, Hoot