Primary Structure

Notes:

Primary structure is a protein structure that proceeds in a linear direction and contain amino acids linked by covalent peptide bonds. This primary structure dictates all higher order structures that occur due to general charge attractions and hydrogen bonding. 

These peptide covalent bonds are made via a process called dehydration. To bind the two amino acids together, the carboxyl group loses an oxygen and the amine group loses two hydrogens to create a molecule of H2O. This is why it is termed a "dehydration" reaction, as the reaction causes a loss of water. This is also known as a condensation reaction, as a small molecule was lost to generate the bond. It is termed condensation as it relies on the molecule "condensing" or losing atoms.