During which phase do chromosomes align at the equatorial plane of the cell?

During the metaphase stage of cell division, chromosomes are lined up along the equatorial plane of the cell, also referred to as the metaphase plate. This alignment is crucial because it ensures that each daughter cell will receive an identical set of chromosomes when they are separated in the subsequent phase of anaphase.

During prophase, chromosomes condense and become visible, and the mitotic spindle begins to form, but they are not yet aligned. In anaphase, the chromosomes are pulled apart towards opposite poles of the cell, which is necessary for their segregation. By the time telophase occurs, the chromosomes have already separated and are in the process of decondensing, and the nuclear envelope is reforming around each set of chromosomes. Thus, metaphase is distinctly characterized by the alignment of chromosomes, making it the correct choice for this question.