"When you slice into an onion, you break into its cell walls and unleash sulfuric compounds into the air. One of them turns into a gas that reacts with the moisture in your eyes to create sulfuric acid, which triggers the familiar flood of tears. Like all enzymes, the one responsible for this chain reaction (alliinase) requires just the right conditions like a neutral pH and a temperature of about 104 degrees Fahrenheit."
"You can also use the same science behind that freezer trick in a way that feels a little less absurd. Cold air provides instant relief because it slows down the irritation process, so you can get a similar effect without sticking your head next to the frozen peas. Try a cold compress, instead. Simply soak a clean washcloth in cool water, wring it out, and place it gently over closed"
Slicing an onion breaks cell walls and releases sulfuric compounds into the air. One compound becomes a gas that reacts with eye moisture to form sulfuric acid, which triggers tear production. The enzyme alliinase catalyzes these reactions and functions optimally near neutral pH and about 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Lower temperatures disrupt those conditions and slow the enzymatic reaction, reducing production of the tear-inducing gas. Chilling the onion or exposing the face to cold (for example, placing the head in a freezer) lowers tear production. Applying a cold compress over closed eyes provides similar relief without extreme measures. Many popular home remedies fail to prevent tears.
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