Step 1: Understand the nature of the transaction. A purchase of merchandise for cash means the company is acquiring inventory and paying for it immediately using cash.
Step 2: Identify the accounts involved. The two accounts affected are 'Merchandise Inventory' (an asset account) and 'Cash' (another asset account).
Step 3: Determine the impact on each account. Since the company is acquiring inventory, the 'Merchandise Inventory' account will increase (debit). Since cash is being used to pay for the purchase, the 'Cash' account will decrease (credit).
Step 4: Apply the rules of debit and credit. Assets increase with a debit and decrease with a credit. Therefore, 'Merchandise Inventory' is debited, and 'Cash' is credited.
Step 5: Record the journal entry. The journal entry would be: Debit 'Merchandise Inventory' and Credit 'Cash' for the amount of the purchase.