Here's why:

* Size: Most cells are microscopic, meaning they are too small to be seen with the naked eye.

* Light Microscopes: These microscopes use visible light and lenses to magnify the image of the specimen. They can achieve magnifications of up to 1000x, which is enough to clearly see individual cells.

Note: While electron microscopes offer much higher magnifications (up to 1,000,000x), they are not typically used to view whole cells. They are better suited for viewing the internal structures of cells.