Final answer:
Fat-soluble hormones (option A), which are lipid-derived such as steroid hormones and thyroid hormone, can diffuse through the cell membrane and bind to intracellular receptors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of hormones that stimulates a chemical response in a target cell by diffusing through the cell membrane to bind to the receptors inside the cell are fat-soluble hormones. These hormones are lipid-derived and include substances such as steroid hormones and thyroid hormone, which are unique among amino acid-derived hormones because they are also lipid soluble. In contrast, hydrophilic or water-soluble hormones, such as amino acid derivatives and polypeptide hormones, are unable to pass through the cell membrane due to their solubility in water and therefore, must bind to receptors on the cell's surface.