When your immune system recognizes a foreign protein or chemical, it forms specific antibodies. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system in response to the presence of antigens, which are foreign substances that the body recognizes as harmful. The antibodies are designed to specifically recognize and bind to the antigen, marking it for destruction by other immune cells. This process is called the immune response and is a critical part of the body's defense against infections and diseases. The ability to produce specific antibodies is a key feature of the adaptive immune system, which is capable of recognizing and responding to a wide range of different pathogens and foreign substances.