The influence of 3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole (P1), pyridine (P2) and 2-(3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl) pyridine (P3) on the corrosion inhibition of steel in molar hydrochloric acid solution is studied using weight-loss potentiodynamic and EIS measurements. Results obtained shows that P3 is the best inhibitor and its inhibition efficiency increases with the increase of concentration to attain 89% since 10(-3) M. Potentiodynamic polarisation studies clearly reveal that it acts essentially as a cathodic inhibitor. The inhibitor studied reduces the corrosion rates. E (%) values obtained from various methods used are in good agreement. Adsorption of P3 on steel surface has an S-shaped adsorption isotherm. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.