The corrosion inhibition of cold rolled steel in 0.5 M sulfuric acid in the presence of 8-hydroxyquinoline and sodium chloride (NaCl) has been investigated by using weight loss and electrochemical techniques. The inhibition efficiency increases with increasing concentration of 8-hydroxyquinoline at the same temperature, but decreases with increasing temperature studied. A synergistic effect exists when 8-hydroxyquinoline and chloride ions are used together to prevent cold rolled steel corrosion in 0.5 M sulfuric acid at every experimental temperature. The polarization curves show that 8-hydroxyquinoline is a cathodic inhibitor, while the complex of 8-hydroxyquinoline and NaCl is a mixed-type inhibitor. The experimental results suggested that the presence of chloride ions in the solution stabilizes the adsorption of 8-hydroxyquinoline molecules on the metal surface and improved the inhibition efficiency of 8-hydroxyquinoline. The adsorption of single 8-hydroxyquinoline follows the Temkin adsorption isotherm, but the complex accords with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Some thermodynamic parameters such as adsorption heat, adsorption entropy and adsorption free energy have been calculated by employing thermodynamic equations. Kinetic parameters such as apparent activation energy and pre-exponential factor have been calculated and discussed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.