Acell is arrested during mitosis. at this stage, distinct chromosomes are aligned along the center of the cell. which stage of mitosis does this describe?

The correct answer is metaphase.

Explanation:

Mitosis is a type of cell division which produces daughter cells with the same genetic material from a mother cell. Mitosis is divided into two stages: Karyokinesis (nuclear division) and cytokinesis (cell division).

Karyokinesis is divided into four phases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase in which each phase can be marked easily due to the changes taking place at each stage.  

Metaphase can be marked easily as the chromosomes are densely packed and are present at the equatorial plate or center of the cell.  

Thus, metaphase is the correct answer.