Hydrogen dissolved in the Cr(2)O(3) scale formed on the stainless steel in the H(2)O-containing atmospheres is observed by TDS (thermal desorption spectroscopy) measurements. The amount of dissolved hydrogen in the Cr(2)O(3) scale reaches a maximum about 0.32 mol% when the H(2)O concentration in the gas reaches 20%. It was found from GDS (glow discharge spectroscopy) measurements that hydrogen may exist at the oxide scale / substrate interface or in Cr(2)O(3) scale bounded that interface. However, results from the Vickers hardness and the observation of scale morphology by SEM (scanning electron microscopy), hydrogen dissolved in the Cr(2)O(3) scale would have little effect on a decrease in the mechanical property of the Cr(2)O(3) scale. Therefore, hydrogen dissolved in the Cr(2)O(3) scale may not be main factor of the deterioration of the Cr(2)O(3) scale.