Why do onions make you cry?

[pinksmartie]

Just done the dinner and was attacked by onion vapours!

[puddicat]

Think that a onion releases a gas of kind when peeled,cant remember the name for it!

[mandimoo]

i dont know, but a bizarre solution that seems to work to prevent this is to put a wooden spoon in your mouth. put the handle end in, and it should be sticking out like you would have a straw in your mouth. then proceed in chopping your onion, and somehow the wood of the spoon absorbs the vapours as they rise and hey presto, no stinging eyes. prepare to have the mickey taken though, you will look funny!