A triazole-based cationic gemini surfactant, 3,5-bis(methylene octadecyl dimethylammonium chloride)-1,2,4-triazole (18-triazole-18) has been synthesized, and its effect on corrosion inhibition of A(3) steel in 1 M HCl has been studied using the weight-loss method. The result showed that 18-triazole-18 acted as an excellent inhibitor in 1 M HCl. It was found that the adsorption mechanism of 18-triazole-18 on the steel surface in acid medium was quite different from that of cationic gemini surfactants containing dimethylene as a spacer, as well as that of conventional cationic single-chained surfactants, which is due to unique molecular structure of 18-triazole-18. 18-Triazole-18 may be adsorbed on the steel surface in acid medium through a maximum of four atoms or groups, i.e., the two nitrogen atoms of triazole ring and two quaternary ammonium head groups. Four regions of surfactant concentration could be divided to illustrate the adsorption of 18-triazole-18 on the steel surface, and four different adsorption mechanisms may take place in different regions of surfactant concentration. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.