Question

What happens when a cell grows to be too large?

Answer 1

Well, if a cell grows too large the surface area is out of proportion, and the cell would have too much trouble getting materials from one place to the other because it would have to travel further through the cytoplasm. Also, the same thing with the wastes... it would take too long to get it out of the cell because of the length it has to travel... does that make sense? So if a cell was smaller and had less volume, the materials would have less distance to travel and everything would work at a reasonable rate.

Answer 2

If this is an animal cell, the cell will likely burst.

If this is a plant cell, the cell will most likely not burst, but increase in turgor pressure.

Plant cells usually don't rupture because they have a cell wall surrounding the cell. Animal cells do not have a cell wall, and thus the plasma membrane may uncontrollably expand to the point of bursting.