B1.2.2—Condensation reactions
Condensation links amino acids by peptide bonds between carboxyl and amine groups, releasing water and forming polypeptide chains at ribosomes.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2025
- Objective
- B1.2.2
- Level
- HL
Exam analysis
Chance of appearing5%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceNovember 2021
Most common paperPaper2
Typical marks1–3
Common command terms
- Draw
- Label
- Annotate
- State
- Identify
Scoring notes
- Common mistake
- Calling peptide-bond formation hydrolysis instead of condensation.
Recent exam appearances
November 2021Paper2 ["HL"] · TZ04(a)[ 1 ]B1.2.2—Condensation reactions
November 2020Paper2 ["HL"] · TZ06(a)[ 3 ]B1.2.2—Condensation reactions
May 2019Paper2 ["HL"] · TZ26(b)[ 3 ]B1.2.2—Condensation reactions
November 2018Paper2 ["HL"] · TZ02(a)(i)[ 1 ]B1.2.2—Condensation reactions
November 2017Paper2 ["HL"] · TZ07(a)[ 3 ]B1.2.2—Condensation reactions
Practice this objective
Coverage 2017–2021 · Updated 15 Jul 2026
Concept essentials
- Peptide bonds form by condensation between carboxyl and amine groups.
- Water is released when amino acids join.
- A dipeptide contains two amino acids linked by one peptide bond.
- A polypeptide has an amino terminus and a carboxyl terminus.