Abstrak Telah dipelajari efisiensi dan mekanisme inhibisi korosi karboksimetil kitosan (KMK) pada permukaan baja lunak dalam larutanH2SO4.Efisiensi inhibisi korosi ditentukan dengan menggunakan metode pengukuran berat hilang (Weight Loss Method), sedangkan mekanisme inhibisi korosi dipelajari berdasarkan hasil analisis karakterisasi Scanning Electron Microscope- Energy Dispersive X-ray(SEM-EDX). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa efisiensi inhibisi korosi KMK dalam H2SO4 mencapai 65.12%. Hasil analisis karakterisasi memperlihatkan mekanisme inhibisi KMK pada permukaan baja lunak melalui peristiwa adsorpsi kimia membentuk lapisan pasif berupa senyawa Fe-khelatmelalui unsur O dari gugus –OH dan N dari gugus –NH2 dari molekul KMK Kata kunci : Efisiensi inhibisi korosi, karboksimetil kitosan, mekanisme inhibisi   Abstract The corrosion inhibition efficiencyandmechanism ofcarboxymethylchitosan(CMC) on the surface ofmild steel in H2SO4 solution has studied. Determination of the corrosion inhibition efficiency measurement used Weight Loss Method (WLM), whereas the mechanism of corrosion inhibition studied based on the analysis characterizing Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX). The results showed that the corrosion inhibition efficiency of CMC reaches 65.12%. Characterization analysis results showed inhibition mechanism CMC on mild steel surface through chemical adsorption events form a passive layer of Fe-chelate compounds through O elementof -OH group and N element of -NH2 group of molecules KMK. Keywords : corrosion inhibittion efficiency, carboxymethyl chitosan, inhibition mechanism