Step 1: Understanding the Question:
Proteins are polymers of amino acids. The question asks for the specific chemical bond that links these monomer units together.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
When two amino acids join, the carboxyl group (\(-COOH\)) of one amino acid reacts with the amino group (\(-NH_2\)) of the next.
This is a condensation (dehydration) reaction where a water molecule (\(H_2O\)) is released.
The resulting covalent bond is an amide linkage, specifically called a peptide bond (\(-CO-NH-\)).
Long chains of these bonds form polypeptides, which then fold into functional proteins.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The linkage is known as a peptide bond.