The inhibiting action of (chloromethyl) triphenyl phosphonium chloride (CTP), tetraphenyl phosphonum chloride (TP), triphenyl phosphine oxide (TPO), triphenyl (phenylmethyl) phosphonium chloride (TPM) and triphenyl phosphine (TPP) on the corrosion of iron in 1 M HCl solution was studied using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Experimental results revealed that CTP, TP, TPO, and TPM act as inhibitors for iron in acid environments, while TPP is an accelerator. These compounds are mixed-type inhibitors and the inhibition efficiency increased with increasing concentrations. Equivalent circuits of the investigated systems are suggested. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.