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
- SL
Exam analysis
Chance of appearing7%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceMay 2025
Most common paperPaper1
Typical marks1
Common command terms
- Draw
- Label
- Annotate
- State
- Identify
Scoring notes
- Common mistake
- Calling peptide-bond formation hydrolysis instead of condensation.
Recent exam appearances
May 2025Paper1A ["SL"] · TZ23[ 1 ]B1.2.2—Condensation reactions
November 2024Paper1 ["SL"] · TZ29[ 1 ]B1.2.2—Condensation reactions
November 2024Paper1 ["SL"] · TZ19[ 1 ]B1.2.2—Condensation reactions
May 2024Paper1 ["SL"] · TZ110[ 1 ]B1.2.2—Condensation reactions
November 2023Paper1 ["SL"] · TZ29[ 1 ]B1.2.2—Condensation reactions
Practice this objective
Coverage 2018–2025 · 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.