Two Schiff bases containing different functional groups were synthesized. Their inhibition performance and adsorption behavior on carbon steel corrosion behavior in acidic media were investigated using electrochemical techniques at different concentrations and temperatures. Results showed that the inhibitors inhibited carbon steel corrosion in acid solution and indicated that the inhibition efficiencies were enhanced with an increase in concentration of inhibitor. Polarization studies showed that the inhibitors behave as mixed type of inhibitors. The adsorption of the inhibitors on a carbon steel surface obeys Langmuir’s adsorption isotherm. The values of activation energy and the thermodynamic parameters, such as Kads, $$\Delta G_{{{\text{ads}}}}^{^\circ }$$ , $$\Delta H_{{{\text{ads}}}}^{^\circ }$$ , and $$\Delta S_{{{\text{ads}}}}^{^\circ }$$ were calculated and discussed. The surface adsorbed film was characterized by atomic force microscopy.