Objective To investigate the inhibition effect of sodium molybdate, sodium gluconaten and their mixtures on 304 stainless steel in sodium chloride medium. Methods Sodium molybdate and sodium gluconate were compounded at different proportions to obtain different complex inhibitors, and then electrochemical polarization curve was used to test the pitting potential of 304 stainless steel in 3. 5% NaCl solution in the presence of these types of corrosion inhibitors. Results One-component sodium molybdate and sodium gluconate exhibited certain inhibitory effects for pitting on 304 stainless steel in 3. 5% NaCl medium, and there was significant synergistic inhibition effect between these two corrosion inhibitors. Conclusion The best ratio of the compounded inhibitor was 2:1 (27 mmol/ L sodium molybdate and 13 mmol/ L sodium gluconaten), and the pitting potential could reach 436 mV.