An aqueous acidic polymerization liquid comprising polymerizable monomers or oligomers with carboxylate and/or carboxylic acid moiety or moieties, and basal surface modified clay that is homogenously dispersable in said liquid is provided, and also methods for making such liquids, and also surface-modified-clay linked water-absorbing polymers made with said liquids and methods, and disposable absorbent articles comprising such surface-modified-clay linked water-absorbing polycarboxylate/polycarboxylic acid polymers.
