Energon is the preferred fuel / energy source of Transformers. It has also been shown as food, currency and sometimes even ammunition.
Typically, energon is highly explosive. Even a small impact can cause energon to detonate fiercely.
In most continuities, the safest way to transport Energon is when it is condensed into the form of an energon cube. In this form energon is more stable, but still quite dangerous.
Generation 1
In the Generation 1 cartoon and comics, energon is often shown being "refined" or created out of other energy sources. It appears as if energon is more a storage medium than an actual "source" of energy. The physical properties of G1 energon are uncertain, aside from its volitility.
In the cartoon, a newly-filled cube is pinkish in color, and stacks of cubes are often compressed / flattened for transport. When thus compressed, the energon becomes vibrantly iridescent.
Generation 1: Blackthorne 3D
The final molecule needed for pure energon, which cannot be manufactured, is highlighted at the right.
The first issue of Blackthorne's Transformers in 3D comics featured an unusually specific discussion of energon, although it is outside of mainline continuity, and this information has not been re-used in other canonical sources.
According to Blackthorne, "pure energon" consists of several molecules (perhaps in the form of a macromolecule), one of which contains an element actually named "energon", which cannot be synthesized. The whole macromolecule is often refered to simply as energon.
The element energon is required for the creation of "pure" energon. This implies that an "impure" energon may exist that can be manufactured without the element energon, but is still refered to as energon because of its similar physical properties.
Beast Era
In the first season of Beast Wars, energon crystals were introduced. This variety had a number of new properties, not the least of which being that it emitted radiation which, with extended exposure, could cause permanent damage to normal Transformers. The Beast Warriors devised their beast modes for the purpose of shielding them from this radiation.
Most of the crystals were lost when the Vok decided to destroy the planet. The Planet Buster cannon was said to have "converted" the crystals into "stable" cubes.
Energon
In the Energon series, energon is presented differently. Here energon's natural form is an ore, and it is colored an amber-yellow. It can be found simply by mining for it on certain planets, rather than needing to be synthesized from other energy sources. The Energon Saber Mini-Cons are largely composed of this pure Energon.
The sub-factions known as Omnicons and Terrorcons have the unique abillity to refine energon and to shape weapons and power-enhancing Energon Chips (also called Energon Stars). Omnicon-refined energon is red, while Terrorcon produced energon stars are a more yellowish-green. Terrorcon-produced Energon reacts badly when most Transformers even touch it, sending the one who grabbed it into system shock. However, it appears that those whose superstructures are in some manner Unicron-fashioned (like the Terrorcons) are immune to its negative effects.
There is also evidence that refined Energon can come in a variety of other colors, including purple, black, and more metallic tones. What other effects these other Energon color have is undetermined at this time.
There also exist other types of energon: green energon, a corrupted form of the substance that flows through the body of Unicron; and blue "super energon", which exists in a pool inside an ancient temple far below the surface of Cybertron.
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