Propogating NaN values when using str.split (#18450)
State: closed

- [X] closes #18450
- [X] tests added / passed
- [X] passes `git diff upstream/master -u -- "*.py" | flake8 --diff`
- [x] whatsnew entry

Labels:
name: Bug
name: Missing-data
description: np.nan, pd.NaT, pd.NA, dropna, isnull, interpolate
name: Strings
description: String extension data type and string data

Comments:
# [Codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=h1) Report
> Merging [#18462](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=desc) into [master](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/commit/e6eac0b308af9869ee123caa8c256bd8a7cc126b?src=pr&el=desc) will **decrease** coverage by `0.04%`.
> The diff coverage is `100%`.

[![Impacted file tree graph](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462/graphs/tree.svg?height=150&width=650&token=eZ4WkYLtcO&src=pr)](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=tree)

```diff
@@            Coverage Diff             @@
##           master   #18462      +/-   ##
==========================================
- Coverage   91.35%   91.31%   -0.05%     
==========================================
  Files         163      163              
  Lines       49695    49698       +3     
==========================================
- Hits        45401    45382      -19     
- Misses       4294     4316      +22
```

| Flag | Coverage Δ | |
|---|---|---|
| #multiple | `89.11% <100%> (-0.03%)` | :arrow_down: |
| #single | `39.66% <0%> (-0.07%)` | :arrow_down: |

| [Impacted Files](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=tree) | Coverage Δ | |
|---|---|---|
| [pandas/core/strings.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2NvcmUvc3RyaW5ncy5weQ==) | `98.47% <100%> (ø)` | :arrow_up: |
| [pandas/io/gbq.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2lvL2dicS5weQ==) | `25% <0%> (-58.34%)` | :arrow_down: |
| [pandas/plotting/\_converter.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL3Bsb3R0aW5nL19jb252ZXJ0ZXIucHk=) | `63.44% <0%> (-1.82%)` | :arrow_down: |
| [pandas/core/frame.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2NvcmUvZnJhbWUucHk=) | `97.8% <0%> (-0.1%)` | :arrow_down: |
| [pandas/core/indexes/datetimes.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2NvcmUvaW5kZXhlcy9kYXRldGltZXMucHk=) | `95.39% <0%> (-0.1%)` | :arrow_down: |

------

[Continue to review full report at Codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=continue).
> **Legend** - [Click here to learn more](https://docs.codecov.io/docs/codecov-delta)
> `Δ = absolute <relative> (impact)`, `ø = not affected`, `? = missing data`
> Powered by [Codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=footer). Last update [e6eac0b...d64995a](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=lastupdated). Read the [comment docs](https://docs.codecov.io/docs/pull-request-comments).

# [Codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=h1) Report
> Merging [#18462](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=desc) into [master](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/commit/be66ef832ef551d118a8e219a9e98928681df835?src=pr&el=desc) will **decrease** coverage by `0.01%`.
> The diff coverage is `100%`.

[![Impacted file tree graph](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462/graphs/tree.svg?width=650&height=150&src=pr&token=eZ4WkYLtcO)](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=tree)

```diff
@@            Coverage Diff             @@
##           master   #18462      +/-   ##
==========================================
- Coverage   91.33%   91.32%   -0.02%     
==========================================
  Files         163      163              
  Lines       49752    49767      +15     
==========================================
+ Hits        45443    45449       +6     
- Misses       4309     4318       +9
```

| Flag | Coverage Δ | |
|---|---|---|
| #multiple | `89.12% <100%> (ø)` | :arrow_up: |
| #single | `40.71% <0%> (-0.07%)` | :arrow_down: |

| [Impacted Files](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=tree) | Coverage Δ | |
|---|---|---|
| [pandas/core/strings.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2NvcmUvc3RyaW5ncy5weQ==) | `98.47% <100%> (ø)` | :arrow_up: |
| [pandas/io/gbq.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2lvL2dicS5weQ==) | `25% <0%> (-58.34%)` | :arrow_down: |
| [pandas/core/frame.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2NvcmUvZnJhbWUucHk=) | `97.8% <0%> (-0.1%)` | :arrow_down: |
| [pandas/core/indexes/multi.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2NvcmUvaW5kZXhlcy9tdWx0aS5weQ==) | `96.44% <0%> (+0.03%)` | :arrow_up: |

------

[Continue to review full report at Codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=continue).
> **Legend** - [Click here to learn more](https://docs.codecov.io/docs/codecov-delta)
> `Δ = absolute <relative> (impact)`, `ø = not affected`, `? = missing data`
> Powered by [Codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=footer). Last update [be66ef8...5c644e8](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/18462?src=pr&el=lastupdated). Read the [comment docs](https://docs.codecov.io/docs/pull-request-comments).

thanks @WillAyd nice. keep em coming!