The influence of 0.01 mol L-1 NaNO 2 addition on the corrosion and passivation of X65 carbon steel in pH 1 to 5 HNO 3 solutions was investigated and compared by electrochemical methods and microstructural techniques. In the pH 1 to 5 solutions without NaNO 2 , the X65 steel presented the electrochemical characteristic of active dissolution, and the corrosion rate of X65 carbon steel decreased gradually with the raise of pH value. By contrast, with the addition of 0.01 mol L-1 NaNO 2 in pH 1 to 5 HNO 3 solutions, the electrochemical characteristic of X65 carbon steel transferred from the active dissolution in the pH 1 to 5 solutions without NaNO 2 to the anodic passivation in the corresponding pH solutions with NaNO 2. For the X65 steel in the pH 1 to 5 solutions with NaNO 2 , with the raise of pH value, the corrosion rate also decreased gradually but the passivation capability strengthened obviously. The corrosion and passivation of X65 carbon steel in pH 1 to 5 HNO 3 solutions without and with 0.01 mol L-1 NaNO 2 were related to the cathodic reactions of H + reduction, O 2 reduction and NO 2-/HNO 2 reduction.