Final answer:
The question is about the classification of elements, particularly those that exhibit properties between metals and nonmetals, which are called metalloids.
Step-by-step explanation:
Elements on the periodic table can be broadly classified into three categories based on their properties: metals, nonmetals, and metalloids. Metals are elements that are typically shiny, malleable, ductile, and excellent conductors of heat and electricity. Nonmetals, on the other hand, are generally not lustrous, and they are poor conductors of heat and electricity; they can also be brittle when solid. The elements that have properties which fall between metals and nonmetals are known as metalloids or semimetals. Therefore, the answer to the question is: d) metalloids.