Stripping chronopotentiometry at scanned deposition potential (SSCP) allows chemical heterogeneity in metal speciation to be unambiguously identified. In the labile regime, use of the Freundlich binding isotherm allows straightforward determination of parameters to describe the apparent stability and heterogeneity of metal complexes with humic substances. The extent of heterogeneity of metal binding by several humic substances follows the order Cu(ii) >> Pb(ii) > Cd(ii). The lability of metal complexes decreases from the foot to the top of the wave, and the greater the degree of heterogeneity, the more readily lability is lost. In the kinetic current regime, the Koutecký–Koryta approximation allows an expression to be obtained for the SSCP wave that provides a good estimate of the experimental data for metal complexes with moderate degrees of heterogeneity.