Final answer:
A dipeptide is formed when two amino acids undergo a condensation reaction, releasing water and creating a peptide bond between the carbon of one amino acid's carboxyl group and the nitrogen of the other's amine group.
Step-by-step explanation:
Formation of a Dipeptide
Two amino acids bond together to form a dipeptide through a process known as a condensation reaction or dehydration synthesis. During this reaction, the carboxyl group (-COOH) of one amino acid reacts with the amine group (-NH₂) of another. This leads to the release of a water molecule (H₂O) and the formation of a peptide bond, which is a covalent bond between the carbon atom of the carboxyl group and the nitrogen atom of the amine group.
This reaction is indicated by the removal of a hydroxyl (-OH) from the carboxyl group and a hydrogen (-H) from the amine group to form water. The result is a dipeptide with a remaining free amino group on one end and a free carboxyl group on the other, which can participate in further peptide bond formation. Such reactions contribute to the creation of polypeptides and eventually proteins, as more amino acids join in a similar fashion.