<P> This line has been called the amphoteric line , the metal - nonmetal line , the metalloid line , the semimetal line , or the staircase . It is also erroneously referred to as the Zintl border or the Zintl line . The last two terms instead refer to a vertical line sometimes drawn between groups 13 and 14 . This particular line was christened by Laves in 1941 . It differentiates group 13 elements from those in and to the right of group 14 . The former generally combine with electropositive metals to make intermetallic compounds whereas the latter usually form salt - like compounds . </P>
in the periodic table the elements that are adjacent to the stair step are called
metalloid