seed to Spongy popcorn, how does that work?
2006-11-02 00:14:31 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
The folklore of some Native American tribes told of spirits who lived inside each kernel of popcorn. The spirits were quiet and content to live on their own -- but grew angry if their houses were heated. The hotter their homes became, the angrier they'd get -- shaking the kernels until the heat was too much. Finally they would burst out of their homes and into the air as a disgruntled puff of steam.
Each kernel of popcorn does contain a small drop of water stored inside a circle of soft starch. (That's why popcorn needs to contain 13.5 percent to 14 percent moisture.) The soft starch is surrounded by the kernel's hard outer surface.
As the kernel heats up, the water begins to expand, and pressure builds against the hard starch. Eventually, this hard surface gives way, causing the popcorn to explode.
As it explodes, the soft starch inside the popcorn becomes inflated and bursts, turning the kernel inside out. The steam inside the kernel is released, and the popcorn is popped!
2006-11-02 00:21:15 · answer #1 · answered by richard_beckham2001 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's the type of popcorn. There are two main types of popcorn. Butterfly and Mushroom. Your example is the mushroom variety. Originally, the two types came from the same plant/cob. Some kernels would pop into a butterfly shape and others into the mushroom shape. Now, plants have been genetically engineered to produce one type or the other. Mushroom shapes are desired for commercial applications and when candy or caramel is used because they are less prone to breakage.
2016-05-23 16:05:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is because the air inside the kernels expands vey quickly when heated, so it 'pops' the popcorn, revealing the inside...
2006-11-02 03:24:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its corn that is grown for popcorn so to speak...and they heat the kernels at a high rate of heat, keeping th kernels moving as not to burn them...think of jiffy pop pop-corn...only on a bigger scale...smiles
2006-11-02 00:24:38 · answer #4 · answered by russ_vl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water inside the kernel.
2006-11-05 19:30:07 · answer #5 · answered by alistair_uk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good Question. I think they get heated really fast and they pop
2006-11-02 00:18:41 · answer #6 · answered by Serah 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi i have never thought of that before but mayby cos they have something in them 2 make them pop or it is scienctific dunno this is wot ithink
2006-11-02 00:19:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋