D-galactose is another sugar that primarily exists as a hemiacetal in solution without an aldehyde group present. How do mild oxidizing agents manage to react with galactose?

• A. The aldehyde group hidden within the hemiacetal structure gets exposed during oxidation.
• B. Galactose cannot be reacted upon by mild-oxidizing agents due to the lack of an available aldehyde group needed for oxidation.
• C. The reaction involves a dynamic equilibrium between cyclic and linear forms, allowing for the continuous supply of the reactive aldehyde group.
• D. The process involves converting from linear galactose into its cyclical structure, which contains a ketone group continuously supplied due to shifting equilibriums.

Answer: (C)