--- loncom/homework/default_homework.lcpm	2016/12/06 20:51:11	1.171
+++ loncom/homework/default_homework.lcpm	2017/01/04 19:54:47	1.172
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA 
 # used by lonxml::xmlparse() as input variable $safeinit to Apache::run::run()
 #
-# $Id: default_homework.lcpm,v 1.171 2016/12/06 20:51:11 damieng Exp $
+# $Id: default_homework.lcpm,v 1.172 2017/01/04 19:54:47 damieng Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -902,11 +902,19 @@ sub chemparse {
     my $formula = '';
     foreach my $token (@tokens) {
 	if ($token eq '->' ) {
-	    $formula .= '<m>\ensuremath{\rightarrow}</m> ';
+            if ($external::target eq 'web') {
+                $formula .= '&rarr; ';
+            } else {
+                $formula .= '<m>\ensuremath{\rightarrow}</m> ';
+	    }
 	    next;
 	}
 	if ($token eq '<-' ) {
-	    $formula .= '<m>\ensuremath{\leftarrow}</m> ';
+            if ($external::target eq 'web') {
+                $formula .= '&larr; ';
+            } else {
+                $formula .= '<m>\ensuremath{\leftarrow}</m> ';
+	    }
 	    next;
 	}  
 	if ($token eq '<=>') {