This document discusses the band theory of solids. It explains that in crystals, the energy levels of atoms are not well-defined as in isolated atoms, due to interactions between neighboring atoms. As silicon atoms are brought closer together from a distance, their energy levels first split and then merge into bands as the interatomic distance reaches the actual separation in the crystal. Specifically, the 4s, 4p, and 3d electron levels of silicon atoms combine to form the valence and conduction bands, separated by a forbidden energy gap.