The adsorption of copper species on a positively charged hanging mercury drop electrode in complexing ligand/surfactant/chloride solution is discussed. Techniques used were differential pulse voltammetry of the copper in the adsorbed film, and potential-step reduction of adsorbed copper followed by different pulse anodic stripping voltammetry of Cu(Hg). The CuCl − 2 species is shown to be the most important copper moiety adsorbed on the electrode and the adsorption is enhanced by organic films. This can be a critical pathway in the reduction of copper(II) in estuarine waters. The induced adsorption of copper in organic layers has biogeochemical implications associated with the nature of organic films and their influence on the Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox couple. There are also analytical applications, e.g., the compositional assay of organic monolayers by utilising Cu(II) and Cu(I) adsorption as electoractive probes and the determination of solution copper-organic binding.