The action of some organic compounds from the group of surfactants and polyethylene glycols (PEGs) on zinc corrosion in alkaline media was studied. The investigations were carried out by use of electrochemical and nonelectrochemical methods. The effectiveness of the inhibitors was compared and it was found that the PEG of average molar weight 400 (PEG400) was especially effective. The assumption has been advanced that zinc corrodes electrochemically in the first stage of exposition, but the chemical corrosion prevails after a longer time. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.