Onions Memes

The chemical formula C 3 H 6 OS isn't just random letters and numbers—it's the molecular structure of syn-propanethial-S-oxide, the notorious tear-jerking compound released when you cut an onion! The cartoon perfectly captures that moment of scientific hubris when you think you're immune to basic biochemistry, only to be betrayed by your own lachrymatory glands. What happens is that when you slice an onion, you damage its cells, releasing enzymes that convert amino acid sulfoxides into sulfenic acids. These unstable compounds then rearrange to form this volatile gas that diffuses through the air, reaches your eyes, and forms sulfuric acid on your moist eyeball surface. Your body's natural defense? Tears to dilute the irritant. Chemistry: 1, Human confidence: 0.

Human hubris meets biochemical reality! The poor soul thinks they're immune to onion tears, but doesn't realize that propanethial S-oxide doesn't care about your confidence. It's the chemical equivalent of saying "what are you gonna do, stab me?" to someone holding a knife. The compound is literally a lachrymatory agent—science-speak for "makes you cry like you just watched the end of Marley & Me while chopping onions." Next time, try refrigerating the onion first or wear swimming goggles like my grad students do in the lab. Nature: 1, Overconfident humans: 0.

You think you're tough until H₂S enters the chat! While onions make you tear up with their mild sulfur compounds, hydrogen sulfide is the final boss of eye-watering chemicals. At just 10 parts per million, this rotten egg gas triggers your eyes to water uncontrollably—and at higher concentrations, it can literally shut down your respiratory system faster than you can say "periodic table." Chemistry doesn't care about your bravado, it just wants to watch the world burn (or in this case, cry)! Fun fact: your body produces tiny amounts of H₂S as a signaling molecule, but apparently not enough to build up an immunity to its tear-jerking powers!

Confidence level: 100%. Hubris level: also 100%. That moment when you're absolutely certain you've evolved beyond basic biochemistry, only to get schooled by a vegetable with a PhD in organic chemistry. The onion doesn't just make you chop it - it delivers a full lecture on syn-propanethial-S-oxide and its effect on lachrymal glands while you sob uncontrollably. Nature's perfect revenge against knife-wielding humans who thought they were at the top of the food chain.

Confidence before science, tears after reality. That purple "onion" is actually an eggplant, which explains why our cartoon friend got the chemistry so spectacularly wrong. The real tear-jerker here is watching someone discover that actual onions contain syn-propanethial-S-oxide, nature's own chemical warfare against your eyeballs. When cut, this volatile compound wafts upward, combines with the moisture in your eyes, and boom—sulfuric acid party on your corneas! Next time someone claims they're immune to onion tears, just wait... chemistry always wins in the end. The laws of biochemistry don't care about your bravado.