Segment Information (Schedule of Segment Reporting Information) (Details) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010		Dec. 31, 2010
Segment sales	$ 9,336	[1]	$ 7,084	[1]	$ 29,841	[1]	$ 24,340	[1]
Transfers	(98)	[1]	(83)	[1]	(305)	[1]	(239)	[1]
Net sales	9,238	[1]	7,001	[1]	29,536	[1]	24,101	[1]
PTOI	850	[1]	763	[1]	4,918	[1]	4,221	[1]
Restructuring Charges	(36)		0		(36)		0
Agriculture [Member]
Segment sales	1,368	[2]	967	[2]	7,869	[2]	6,641	[2]
Transfers	(1)	[2]	0	[2]	(1)	[2]	(1)	[2]
Net sales	1,367	[2]	967	[2]	7,868	[2]	6,640	[2]
PTOI	(194)	[2],[3],[4]	(191)	[2]	1,743	[2],[3],[4]	1,478	[2]
Segment Reporting Information, Net Assets	8,058				8,058				4,927
Increase in net assets					3,131
Milestone Payment Associated with Licensing Agreement	(50)				(50)
Product Claims	(75)				(75)
Electronics and Communications [Member]
Segment sales	841		703		2,543		1,991
Transfers	(4)		(4)		(14)		(13)
Net sales	837		699		2,529		1,978
PTOI	99		126		313		339
Industrial Biosciences [Member]
Segment sales	293	[5]	0	[5]	416	[5]	0	[5]
Transfers	(4)	[5]	0	[5]	(5)	[5]	0	[5]
Net sales	289	[5]	0	[5]	411	[5]	0	[5]
PTOI	(27)	[5],[6],[7]	0	[5]	(34)	[5],[7],[8]	0	[5]
Segment Reporting Information, Net Assets	2,596				2,596				0
Restructuring Charges	(8)				(8)
Transaction Related Costs	(53)				(70)
Nutrition and Health [Member]
Segment sales	844	[9]	304	[9]	1,654	[9]	902	[9]
Transfers	0	[9]	0	[9]	0	[9]	0	[9]
Net sales	844	[9]	304	[9]	1,654	[9]	902	[9]
PTOI	(34)	[6],[7],[9]	10	[9]	(4)	[7],[8],[9]	44	[9]
Segment Reporting Information, Net Assets	6,497				6,497				950
Increase in net assets					5,547
Restructuring Charges	(10)				(10)
Transaction Related Costs	(79)				(112)
Performance Chemicals [Member]
Segment sales	2,142		1,675		5,934		4,658
Transfers	(58)		(59)		(194)		(162)
Net sales	2,084		1,616		5,740		4,496
PTOI	593		292		1,490		756
Performance Coatings [Member]
Segment sales	1,100		937		3,198		2,801
Transfers	0		0		0		(1)
Net sales	1,100		937		3,198		2,800
PTOI	72		64		210		184
Performance Materials [Member]
Segment sales	1,745		1,578		5,197		4,688
Transfers	(27)		(17)		(81)		(54)
Net sales	1,718		1,561		5,116		4,634
PTOI	231		281		773		772
Safety and Protection [Member]
Segment sales	1,001		871		2,991		2,505
Transfers	(4)		(3)		(10)		(8)
Net sales	997		868		2,981		2,497
PTOI	118		134		406		357
Pharmaceuticals [Member]
Segment sales	0		0		0		0
Transfers	0		0		0		0
Net sales	0		0		0		0
PTOI	70		111		200		402
Other [Member]
Segment sales	2		49		39		154
Transfers	0		0		0		0
Net sales	2		49		39		154
PTOI	(78)	[7]	(64)		(179)	[7]	(111)
Restructuring Charges	(18)				(18)
Danisco [Member]
Transaction Related Costs	$ (132)				$ (182)

[1] A reconciliation of total segment PTOI to income before income taxes is as follows: Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months EndedSeptember 30, 2011 2010 2011 2010Total segment PTOI$850 $763 $4,918 $4,221Net exchange losses, including affiliates(6) (160) (145) (25)Corporate expenses and net interest(275) (273) (913) (711)Income before income taxes$569 $330 $3,860 $3,485

[2] As of September 30, 2011, Agriculture net assets were $8,058, an increase of $3,131 from $4,927 at December 31, 2010. The increase was primarily due to higher trade receivables due to normal seasonality in the sales and cash collections cycle.

[3] Included a $(50) charge recorded in research and development expense in connection with a milestone payment associated with a Pioneer licensing agreement. Since this milestone was reached before regulatory approval was secured by Pioneer, it was charged to research and development expense.

[4] Included a $(75) charge recorded in cost of goods sold and other operating charges associated with the company's process to fairly resolve claims associated with the use of Imprelis®. See Note 11 for additional information.

[5] As of September 30, 2011, Industrial Biosciences net assets were $2,596 compared to $0 at December 31, 2010, due to the Danisco acquisition.

[6] Included a $(132) charge for the fair value step-up of inventories that were acquired as part of the Danisco transaction and sold in the third quarter 2011, which impacted the segments as follows: Industrial Biosciences - $(53) and Nutrition & Health - $(79).

[7] Included a $(36) restructuring charge impacting the following segments: Industrial Biosciences - $(8); Nutrition & Health - $(10); and Other - $(18). See Note 4 for additional information.

[8] Included second and third quarter 2011 charges totaling $(182) for transaction related costs and the fair value step-up of inventories that were acquired as part of the Danisco transaction, which impacted the segments as follows: Industrial Biosciences - $(70) and Nutrition & Health - $(112).

[9] As of September 30, 2011, Nutrition & Health net assets were $6,497, an increase of $5,547 from $950 at December 31, 2010. The increase was primarily due to the Danisco acquisition.