Abstract: The corrosion resistant brass is widely used as heat-exchanging material, such as the condensation tubes in power plants and sea boats. This paper introduces the effect of alloying elements on the corrosion resistance of brass and their function mechanisms. Addition of rare elements can improve the corrosion resistance of alloy by decreasing the concentration of oxygen, refining the grains, improving the morphology and distribution of impurity elements and forming the corrosion inhibitor with other elements. Therefore, addition of rare elements is an important way to develop new environmental protection type brass.