Four heterocyclic compounds namely 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazoles (AT), 5-Methyl-2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazoles (MAT), 5-Ethyl-2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazoles (EAT) and 5-Propyl-2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazoles (PAT) were synthesized and their influence on the inhibition of corrosion of mild steel (MS) in 0.5 M H2SO4 was investigated by weight loss and potentiodynamic polarization techniques. The values of activation energy, free energy of adsorption, heat of adsorption, enthalpy of activation and entropy of activation were also calculated to investigate the mechanism of corrosion inhibition. Potentiodynamic polarization studies were carried out at room temperature, and showed that all the compounds studied are mixed type inhibitors causing blocking of active sites on the metal. The inhibition efficiency of the compounds was found to vary with concentration, temperature and immersion time. Good inhibition efficiency was evidenced in the sulfuric acid solution. The adsorption of the compounds on mild steel for sulfuric acid was found to obey Langmuir's adsorption isotherm. FT-IR spectroscopic studies were also used to investigate the purity of compounds synthesized.