Simplistic correlations between molecular electronic properties and inhibition efficiencies: Do they really exist?

• Simplistic correlations between molecular parameters and corrosion inhibition efficiencies critically evaluated. 24 heterocyclic organic compounds tested as inhibitors for Cu in 3 wt.% NaCl aqueous solution. None among usually considered correlates with efficiency. Pros cons of the efficiency (IE) metric discussed: IE suffers from nonlinearity. Inhibition power proposed a new evaluating performance inhibitors. The often used simplistic electronic experimentally determined are evaluated set compounds, copper Twelve different descriptors—such ionization potential, electron affinity, HOMO–LUMO gap, dipole moment—are it is shown that none them displays any noticeable correlation Our results, therefore, cast serious doubt on reported such efficiency, obtained only few inhibitors, which abundant literature. We also discuss some pros introduce termed uses universal logarithmic scale dimensionless decibel (dB) units.