Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Why do onions irritate eyes and smell ?

metalresearcher - 20-12-2010 at 09:39

Whe slicing onions a nearly pungent odor appears which also generates tears. Leek has (in a lesser extent) the same effect.
Which chemicals are responsible for this ?

hissingnoise - 20-12-2010 at 09:47

Organo-sulphur compounds basically . . .
Their vapours are eye irritants - obviously!


entropy51 - 20-12-2010 at 09:53

The odor of onions is due to allyl propyl disulfide, and the lachrymatory properties are due to thiopropionaldehyde.

condennnsa - 20-12-2010 at 11:08

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syn-propanethial-S-oxide

psychokinetic - 20-12-2010 at 11:54

Because ogres are like onions, and it would hurt if you shoved an ogre in your eyes.

>.>

cnidocyte - 20-12-2010 at 12:37

The technical word for a compound that makes your eyes water is a lacrimator. I think the most potent lacrimator known to man is o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile. They don't call it tear gas for nothing. :D

The WiZard is In - 20-12-2010 at 13:15

Quote: Originally posted by metalresearcher  
Whe slicing onions a nearly pungent odor appears which also generates tears. Leek has (in a lesser extent) the same effect.
Which chemicals are responsible for this ?



Onions? Heck. Why do little girls smell like anchovies?!


Attachment: Vaginal Menstrual Cycle.pdf (768kB)
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This file has been downloaded 431 times


djh
----
If the County Pervert Posse
calls — please deny all knowledge
of me.

djh - Was a member of —
The Society for the Scientific Study of Sex


Ephoton - 20-12-2010 at 17:41

BARFFF

franklyn - 20-12-2010 at 20:36

While on the topic , why does flatulence stink ?
It's so deaf people can enjoy them too.

.

aeacfm - 21-12-2010 at 00:28

so does this lacrimator do that it self or react with air when the onion cut and do that ? i know strange question !!!

hissingnoise - 21-12-2010 at 06:43

Quote: Originally posted by The WiZard is In  

Society for the Scientific Study of Sex.

So, what's with the post-coital loud vaginal raspberry-blowing stuff?



The WiZard is In - 21-12-2010 at 10:42

Quote: Originally posted by hissingnoise  
Quote: Originally posted by The WiZard is In  

Society for the Scientific Study of Sex.

So, what's with the post-coital loud vaginal raspberry-blowing stuff?


Don't know off hand. Sounds like a bad case of lack of lube.
As cunt(e) originally meant a hollow or empty space... air
perhaps.

I would bring this upon your attention, la articles contain reports of some interesting Amateur (self) Experimentation....!


Female-orgasm.jpg - 966kB


djh
----
What do you call the
little cabin in the front
of the plane where the
female pilot sits?

Cuntpit.


www.sexscience.org

Welcome to the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality
The oldest professional society dedicated to the advancement of knowledge about sexuality

About SSSS
• Founded in 1957 to encourage the rigorous systematic study of sexuality.
• More than 700 individuals hold membership in the Society.
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PS — I have a PhD in gynecology via the picture study method.

franklyn - 21-12-2010 at 14:24

Only you can progress from onions to gynecology
and then not post that in the Biochemistry forum

Clipboard01.gif - 7kB

ScienceSquirrel - 21-12-2010 at 14:32

Faire l'amour is a very personal experience.
If you both like it then it is OK.

[Edited on 22-12-2010 by ScienceSquirrel]

Rich_Insane - 21-12-2010 at 14:39

Allylic organosulfur compounds are irritants AND degrade to very dilute sulfuric acid.

Rogeryermaw - 24-12-2010 at 23:11

Quote: Originally posted by The WiZard is In  




Onions? Heck. Why do little girls smell like anchovies?!



if it smells like fish it's a tasty dish. if it smells like cologne, leave it alone!!!

DDTea - 26-12-2010 at 20:21

Quote: Originally posted by cnidocyte  
The technical word for a compound that makes your eyes water is a lacrimator. I think the most potent lacrimator known to man is o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile. They don't call it tear gas for nothing. :D


CS is one of the tear gasses and pretty much the standard one these days. However, CR is quite a bit more irritating than CS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CR_gas). Of course, OC is still even more irritating. They all have different flavors, basically :)

Quote:
Allylic organosulfur compounds are irritants AND degrade to very dilute sulfuric acid.


Very interesting. Isn't the treatment for pink-eye to reduce the pH of the eye in order to kill the bacteria? I wonder if irritating the heck out of your eyes by chopping onions could be an at-home treatment.