66.1k views
2 votes
State two reasons why some molecules can pass through a certain membrane, but other molecules can not.

User Jhilgeman
by
4.4k points

2 Answers

3 votes
The cell membrane has selective permeability and chooses which to pass through. Non polar molecules can pass easily with diffusion, but ions cannot.
User Gonras Karols
by
4.3k points
1 vote

Answer:

Size and polarity

Step-by-step explanation:

I can think of two reasons:

  1. Size — the molecules may be too big to pass through the pores of the membrane
  2. Polarity — polar molecules and ions cannot pass through a nonpolar membrane.

User Lupguo
by
4.6k points