AbstractStudies were conducted on grafting of acrylamide (AM) and sodium‐2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropane sulfonate (NaAMPS) comonomers onto dextran utilizing Ce(IV) induced initiation. The effects of reaction temperature, the Ce(IV)/dextran ratio, and the AM/NaAMPS ratio on grafting yield were investigated. The graft copolymerization behavior can be explained by exchange of the AMPS anion with one of the ligands on the Ce(IV) initiator. Oxidative modification of the dextran substrate improved the yield of graft copolymer. The dextran‐g‐poly(acrylamido‐co‐sodium‐2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropane sulfonate) samples prepared by this method were characterized as to copolymer composition and molecular weight utilizing elemental analysis, dilute solution viscometry, and aqueous size exclusion chromatography. Relationships of molecular weight and charge density to kinematic viscosity and salt se