The efficiency of 3,5-bis(n-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (n-POX, n = 1, 2, 3), as corrosion inhibitors for mild steel in I M perchloric acid (HClO4) have been determined by weight loss measurements and electrochemical studies. The results show that these inhibitors revealed a good corrosion inhibition even at very low concentrations. Comparison of results among those obtained by the studied oxadiazoles shows that 3-POX was the best inhibitor. Polarisation curves indicate that n-pyridyl substituted-1,3,4-oxadiazoles are mixed type inhibitors in 1 M HClO4. The adsorption of these inhibitors follows a Langmuir isotherm model. The electronic properties of n-POX, obtained using the AMI semi-empirical quantum chemical approach, were correlated with their experimental efficiencies using the linear resistance model (LR). (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.