Molecules like glucose usually need a special transporter protein to provide a tunnel through cell membranes. Explain why using the chemical properties of the cell membrane. Solution Hi, The cell envelope is made up of lipid bilayer. This bilayer is hydrophobic in nature ( non polar) and does not allow all molecules to pass freely across the membrane. Only small uncharged molecules ( O2, CO2) can pass through it. Even the small uncharged polar molecules such as H2O can pass through it it. But the larger uncharged polar molecules cannot pass through it freely, such as Glucose. The charged molecules such as Na+, H+ are polar in nature and hence cannot pass through the non-polar lipid bilayer regardless of size. They all need specialized transporters to facilitate their transport without interaction with hydrophobic bilayer..