Which of the following substances is typically used to remove polish from nails?

Polish remover is specifically designed to dissolve nail polish, and acetone is the most common and effective ingredient found in many nail polish removers. It works by breaking down the chemicals in the polish, allowing it to be easily wiped away from the nail surface.

While water, cream, and soap are often used for cleaning and maintaining nails, they do not have the chemical properties necessary to effectively remove polish. Water might help in cleansing nails, but it lacks the ability to dissolve the polish. Creams may provide moisture or nourishment to the nails but do not have any active ingredients to tackle nail polish removal. Soap can clean nails but is not effective in removing polish, as it does not dissolve the formulation used in most nail products. Thus, acetone stands out as the correct choice due to its specialized function in removing polish efficiently.