Onion

Yellow onions.

An onion is the common name for many plants in the genus Allium, which are characterized by a strong, pungent odor. Onions can cause tearing when cut due to a series of chemical reactions in which natural sulfoxides are converted into sulfenic acids and finally syn-propanethial-S-oxide, which evaporates into the air and irritates the eyes' lachrymal glands.[1][2]

## See also[edit]

* Food storage
* Preservation (food)
* Dehydration
* Canning

## References[edit]

1. ↑ http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/onion.html
2. ↑ http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=what-is-the-chemical-proc