Here's how it works:

* Water molecule removal: A water molecule (H₂O) is removed from the two amino acids, specifically from the carboxyl group (-COOH) of one amino acid and the amino group (-NH₂) of the other.

* Peptide bond formation: The carbon atom from the carboxyl group of one amino acid forms a covalent bond with the nitrogen atom from the amino group of the other amino acid. This new bond is called a peptide bond.

The resulting molecule is a dipeptide, which is a chain of two amino acids linked by a peptide bond. This process can continue, adding more amino acids to the chain to form longer polypeptides and eventually proteins.