The world that we live in is a diverse and also a pretty interesting place to be in. The earth as we know it can sometimes work in ways that we thought are not in the order of things. There are many things all around us that can easily surprise and baffle us. There are certain interesting facts that are worth knowing in order to better understand this world that we live in.

There are times that we are faced with questions to things that, although considered common and ordinary, can be perplexing enough to make us think. This article will help explain one of those questions. Everyone knows what an onion is like. And surely, everyone knows that cutting onions can make one cry. But what most people do not know is- why?

Surely you might have tried cutting an onion at one time or the other. Doesn't it make you wonder why cutting one can make you cry? No, cutting an onion is not always a sad episode to make your tears flow freely and uncontrollably. There is a better explanation available why cutting an onion can make you teary-eyed. And the explanation has nothing to do with the emotional drama in life.

What makes onion cutting a usual tearful event is due to a certain substance found in onions. That substance is known as syn-propanethial-S-oxide, a chemical irritant that is known to stimulate the lachrymal glands, the part of the eyes that produces tears. The main culprit known for causing the teary episode is the enzyme known as the lachrymatory-factor synthase.

When an onion is cut, the said enzyme is released into the air. And as it is being released, it reacts with the amino acids in the onions and converts sulfoxides into becoming sulfenic acid. In the process, this sulfenic acid, an unstable compound, rearranges itself and becomes the chemical irritant syn-propanethial-S-oxide. This substance becomes a vapor and is released into the air. Once it comes into contact with the eyes, it immediately irritates the sensitive lachrymal glands and stimulates it to produce tears in an attempt to flush out the said irritant from the eyes.

There are certain methods available that may be able to help avoid the irritant syn-propanethial-S-oxide from getting into your eyes whenever you are cutting an onion or two. One of them is by cutting onions that has been submerged under water. This helps prevent the irritating chemical substance from being released as vapor in the air as you cut open an onion. A teary episode can also be prevented by cutting onions in running water.

Trying to leave an onion wet while cutting it can also help in minimizing the effects of the substance syn-propanethial-S-oxide from further irritating your tear glands. Another unique idea thought out is by chilling or freezing your onions before you begin to cut them. Freezing can help prevent the enzymes in the onion from activating, therefore limiting the amount of vapors being released in the air and finding their way into your tear glands as irritants.