Eli5: How come some popcorn kernels refuse to pop?

Question

Eli5: How come some popcorn kernels refuse to pop?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

Popcorn depends on a certain amount of moisture inside the kernel of corn to flash into steam with heat. That steam expansion is what makes popcorn…popcorn. No moisture equals no steam which equals no pop which equals no popcorn and an “old maid” instead.