What account category is affected when a business purchases goods and pays cash?

When a business purchases goods and pays cash, the transaction affects the expense account category. This is because the cost of the goods represents an outflow of cash for the business, which is classified as an expense. When goods are purchased, the business incurs a cost that will either be used in operations or eventually sold. This expense reflects the consumption of resources that are necessary to generate revenues in the future.

The correct choice indicates that understanding the nature of the transaction—purchasing goods for cash—leads directly to recognizing it as an expense, which is essential in accounting for the flow of money and resources within a business. Other categories such as assets, revenue, and equity are not directly impacted in the same manner. For example, while the purchased goods may increase inventory (an asset), the immediate payment affects the cash balance and is categorized as an expense, highlighting a critical aspect of business operations.