Stereotopological indices for a family of chemical graphs

We describe a mathematical method that can be employed to define stereotopological indices of placements of certain graphs in space. These indices are applied to successfully distinguish between configurations in a chemically interesting family of knotted and/or linked four-valent oriented graphs in space. The methods are fundamentally algebraic and combinatorial in nature and are most readily understood in the context of calculations and the study of several key examples that are presented.