The inhibition action of the citric acid and three surfactants: sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), t-octyl phenoxy polyethoxyethanol (Triton X-100), sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate (SDBS) on the corrosion behavior and gas evolution of Pb-Sb-As-Se was investigated in 12.5 M H2SO4 solution with linear sweep polarization, cyclic voltammetry and weight loss measurements methods. The results drawn from different techniques are comparable. It was found that these surfactants and citric acid act as good inhibitors for the corrosion of lead alloy in H2SO4 solution. SDS inhibited most effectively the lead alloy corrosion among the three surfactants and citric acid. The inhibition efficiency for the inhibitors decreases in the order: SDS > SDBS > Triton X-100 > citric acid > blank. The inhibition efficiency increases with rising of the inhibitor concentration. In this work, the effect of the inhibitors on hydrogen and oxygen evolution was studied. In addition, it was found that the adsorption of used inhibitors on lead alloy surface follows Langmuir isotherm. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.