In our organic lab this week, we did the preparation of super-absorbent polymer

Question

In our organic lab this week, we did the preparation of super-absorbent polymer by free-radical polymerization.In two test tubes, I used 0.3 g of Acrylic acid. To that I added 0.45ml of 8M NaOH, 0.10 mL of ascorbic acid, 0.2 mL crosslinker solution, 0.10 mL of hydrogen peroxide. I let the polymerization occur for 90 minutes. After the experiment, I took out the two polymers from my test tubes. I placed one in DI water and the second in a 500mL solution of NaCl. The next week.. My swollen polymer masses were as follow

The polymer in NaCl ---> 21.4 g

The polymer in water---> 96.1 g

I am given the formula Swellling Ratio = (mass of swollen polymer - mass of dry polymer) / ( mass of dry polymer)

They are asking me to find the mass of dry polymer in order to calculate the swelling ratio and I have no idea how. Help please.

Explanation / Answer

Swelling ratio for Nacl = (21.4-0.3)/0.3 = 70.33

Swelling ratio for water = (96.1-0.3)/0.3 = 319.33

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