A random copolymer of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) and N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide (NHMA) was prepared by solution polymerization using ceric ammonium nitrate as an initiator. A grade of poly(AMPS)-co-poly(NHMA) (PAMPS-co-PNHMA) random copolymer was synthesized with AMPS and NHMA. The homopolymerization of AMPS and NHMA was also carried out by the same way as that of random copolymer. PAMPS-co-PNHMA and homopolymers of AMPS and NHMA were characterized by FTIR, rheology, FT-NMR, scanning electron microscope, thermal analysis, and X-ray diffaractometry. Cyclic voltammetry is used to explain the ion exchange properties of PAMPS-co-PNHMA and its possible application in the trace analysis. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 123: 929-935, 2012