During which stage of nuclear division do chromosomes become arranged at the equator of the spindle?

During metaphase, chromosomes align along the equatorial plane of the cell, often referred to as the metaphase plate. This positioning is crucial because it ensures that each daughter cell will receive an equal and identical set of chromosomes during the subsequent stages of cell division. The spindle fibers, which extend from the centrosomes at opposite poles of the cell, attach to the centromeres of the chromosomes, ensuring proper alignment and readiness for separation in the next phase.

Anaphase follows metaphase and is characterized by the separation of sister chromatids as they are pulled toward opposite poles of the cell, while telophase involves the reformation of nuclear envelopes around the separated sets of chromosomes. Prophase is the initial stage where chromosomes condense and become visible, and the mitotic spindle begins to form.