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