Reaction of onions-Related to Cell structures

[maryijeanne2000]

My question is: If you observe 2 onions set out for you, one is whole and one is sliced how does your reaction differ from the whole vs sliced?

And there is a second part: Based on what you know about general cell structure, attempt to explain why the reaction differs when the onion has been sliced?

I realize this is a high school experinment but I have been out 35 years and these experinments were not performed at my high school. I am now in college studying Human Biology, any resolution to this question is not in my text and my google searches have not turned up a resolution to my 2 part question. Help

maryijeanne2000

[canalon]

Take an onion.
Stare at it for as long as you want. Beside being boring do you notice anything?

Take a mean and sharp knife and cut this onion in slices. Notice anything happening to you? Do you feel sad for the poor thing?

And for the second part, it involves enzymatic oxidation of sulfur compoundsand segregation in different compartments.

[maryijeanne2000]

Thanks Patrick

maryijeanne2000