As polyphosphates are dissolved in water reversion begins to take place. Reversion is hydrolysis or the addition of water to the molecule. During hydrolysis, bonds in both the phosphate and water are broken. The hydrogen atom reacts with the oxygen in the broken phosphate bond to form P-OH.  The  -­OH group in the water bond reacts with phosphorous in the phosphate bond to form P-OH. The result is two new phosphates.   With larger chain phosphates, the decomposition does not always result in a predictable pattern of specific species of lower chain phosphates. However, the eventual reversion to orthophosphate is assured.   Several factors affect rates of reversion. Temperature, pH, and the presence of other ions  all have a significant effect. As temperature increases, the rate of reversion increases.  pH levels above 11 or below 7 increase the rates as well. The rate can be from hours to days depending on the conditions.   The higher the concentration of phosphates in solution, the lower the rate of reversion.   Pyrophosphates are the most stable of the polyphosphates.   As larger chain polyphosphates break down to form pyrophosphate and orthophosphate, the rate of reversion decreases once pyrophosphate reaches an equilibrium. Manufacturers  blend polyphosphates with other compounds to reduce the reversion in their finished product.   In industrial and municipal systems, product reversion is undesirable because orthophosphate shows limited sequestering or crystal modifying effects.