Question about Beast wars...

Beast wars was my first Transformers cartoon, as well as my first Transformers toy. (I had Cheetor, Rattrap and Optimal Optimus.)
Well, I never cared about this back then, I only liked it for the action. But something that always bothers me now about the cartoon. Was it ever explained excatly WHY they needed to be in Beast form to prevent damage from the Energon? I don't think they ever did.
Well, I never cared about this back then, I only liked it for the action. But something that always bothers me now about the cartoon. Was it ever explained excatly WHY they needed to be in Beast form to prevent damage from the Energon? I don't think they ever did.