Concept:
An anticaries agent is a substance that protects teeth from decay (caries). The key is which ion strengthens tooth enamel against acid attack.
Step 1: Sodium fluoride supplies fluoride ions (F−). These ions are incorporated into the enamel, converting hydroxyapatite into the harder, more acid-resistant fluorapatite.
Step 2: The fluoride-hardened enamel resists the acids made by mouth bacteria, so sodium fluoride is widely used in toothpastes and water fluoridation to prevent cavities.
Why the others are wrong: Calcium carbonate is mainly an abrasive/antacid, zinc chloride is an astringent, and sodium chloride is just table salt. None of them provide the cavity-protecting fluoride ion.
Answer: Option (2) — Sodium Fluoride.