The nature of water-macromolecule interactions in aqueous model polymers has been investigated using quantitative measurements of magnetization transfer. Cross-linked polymer gels composed of 94% water, 3% N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide, and 3% functional monomer (acrylamide, methacrylamide, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, 2-hydroxyethyl-acrylate, or 2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate) were studied. Water-macromolecule interactions were modified by varying the pH and specific functional group on the monomer. The magnitudes of the interactions were quantified by measuring the rate of proton nuclear spin magnetization exchange between the polymer matrix and the water. This rate was highly sensitive to the presence of carboxyl side groups on the macromolecule. However, the dependence of the rate on pH was not consistent with simple acid/base-catalyzed chemical exchange, and instead, the data suggest that multiequilibria proton exchange, a wide distribution in surface group pK values, and/or a macromolecular structural dependence on pH may play a significant role in magnetization transfer in polymer systems. These model polymer gels afford useful insights into the relevance of chemical composition and chemical dynamics on relaxation in tissues.