What will happen to a cell that is placed in a solution containing a high concentration of sugar, a molecule that cannot pass across the cell membrane? what will happen to a cell that is placed in a solution containing a high concentration of sugar, a molecule that cannot pass across the cell membrane? the cell will pump the salt in the cytoplasm out of the cell via simple diffusion. the cell will swell up with water and burst. the cell will lose its interior water, causing it to shrivel up and possibly die?

As the sugar molecules cannot pass. through the cell membrane, we call the membrane semi-permeable meberane or differntially permeable membrane or partially permeable meberane. this way, since the sugar solution has a lower water potential than the cytoplasm of cell, the water molecules will flow from the cytoplasm to the sugar solution by osmosis. and the cell looses water.

if it's an animal cell, the cell will shrink and die. but this only happens outside animal body.

if it's a plant cell, the cytoplasm will shrink, but not the cell wall. cytoplasm will detach from cell wall and plasmolysis will occur. the plant cell will become flaccid, and the plant may die.