[Anne Marie B-J]

Is there an easier way to tell thst a molecule is the same molecule when it is drawn differently?  Is there a memory device to help separate the definitions of "chiral" and "achiral" as well as all the other types of stereoisomers?  Is there maybe a checklist of what you need to determine about the molecule which would tell you this is a "such and such" molecule?

[saN]

Usually, to see if the molecules are the same, name them by the IUPAC system. If the names are the same, than they would be identical and vice versa. Thats the way that I've been doing it.

[smb]

In the case of stereo isomers to decide whether they are same are different the best one is predict the R and S configuration. If both gate same then they are same  . It is very simple.

[quzer]

chiral molecules have their mirror images and not superimposable.They are also asymmetry to each other while achiral molecules have a plane of symmetry and not mirror images of each other.The two molecules are said to be the same when they have same number of carbon and functional group,but differ in the arrangement of their atom.