Amphoteric polyacrylamide (AmPAM) was prepared successfully through seeded dispersion polymerization with acrylamide, methacrylatoethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride and acrylic acid as comonomers in ammonium sulfate solution. It was characterized by (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR) and elemental analysis. The particle morphology and apparent viscosity of polymer dispersion were obtained by optical microscope and rotary viscometer, respectively. AmPAM dispersion was obtained with low apparent viscosity. The process was smooth without high viscosity stage. The data of (1)H NMR spectrum and elemental analysis indicated that all monomers had participated in the polymerization. The seeded reaction time and the mass ratio of two parts of monomers had significant effects on the dispersion polymerization. The best conditions were seeded reaction time 1.75h and the mass ratio 0.75. The apparent viscosity of AmPAM dispersion depended on the number of particles, particle size and low molecular weight polymer concentration in the continuous phase. AmPAM showed both anti-polyelectrolyte effect and polyelectrolyte effect. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 51:1742-1748, 2011. (C) 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers