The anodic oxidation of hydroquinone in the presence of sulfite was investigated by chronoamperometry at a rotating gold electrode and chronopotentiometry at a stationary gold electrode. The experiments show that sulfite is strongly adsorbed on the electrode inhibiting the hydroquinone oxidation, and at the same time is consumed by sulfonation of the anodic reaction product, p-benzoquinone. The resulting effects can be explained by the respective rates of both processes, depending on the experimental conditions (rotational speed, pH, concentration ratio of reactants).