A kinetic study of the aqueous polymerization of ethyl acrylate (EA) was carried out at 30 degrees C in a dilute nitric acid medium with ammonium ceric nitrate (ACN)-n-propanol (nPA) and ACN-ethanol as redox initiator systems. The ceric-ion consumption was first-order with respect to the ceric-ion concentration with both initiator systems. The formation of complexes between Ce(IV) and reducing agents was observed. The orders with respect to the Ce(IV), reducing agents, and monomer were evaluated for aqueous polymerizations of EA initiated by Ce(IV)-nPA and Ce(IV)-ethanol redox initiator systems. The overall activation energy for the aqueous polymerization of EA was evaluated in the temperature region of 27-40 degrees C with both initiator systems. A kinetic mechanism for the aqueous polymerization of EA initiated by redox initiator systems is presented. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.