The analysis of the influence of metallurgical factors (yield stress and solution resistance parameter [SR] due to the content of the main alloying elements Cr, Ni and Mo) on stress corrosion cracking of steels of different classes in an aggressive NACE solution at 25 C was performed . The dependences of the critical stress , i.e. the transition stress from active corrosion to the mechanism of hydrogen embrittlement, on the yield stress value and coefficient of stress concentration are obtained . The relationship between the critical stress, the conditional yield stress and the value of high stress concentration factor is revealed. It is concluded that the loss of corrosion resistance for unalloyed steels with a yield stress below 500 MPa is due to an increase in the concentration of hydrogen during the deformation of the material in a corrosive environment.