Question

What class of elements lies along the “staircase” line in the periodic table? How do their properties compare with those of metals and nonmetals?

Short answer

In the modern periodic table, the class of elements that lies along the “staircase” line is metalloids (semimetals) which have the properties of both metals and nonmetals.

Step-by-step solution

Find the class of elements that lies along the “staircase” line

The modern periodic table is also known as the long form of the periodic table in which all the known elements are placed in the table by increasing atomic number. Every element is indicated by its atomic symbol in the modern periodic table. The atomic number of each symbol is shown by the number above it. Metalloids are a class of elements that lies along the “staircase” line in the modern periodic table.

Properties of elements

In the modern periodic table, the staircase line divides the elements into three classes such as metals, nonmetals, and metalloids (semimetals). Each class's elements share some fundamental properties such as physical states, melting points, boiling points, density, lustrous, sonorous, metallic character, ductility, thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity. Metals have the opposite characteristic of nonmetals but metalloids (semimetals) have the properties of both metals and nonmetals.