Segment Information (Schedule of Segment Information) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
PTOI	$ 4,832		$ 5,345		$ 4,613
Depreciation and amortization	1,713	[1]	1,560	[1]	1,380	[1]
Equity in earnings of affiliates	102	[1]	192	[1]	177	[1]
Segment net assets	25,384		25,551		17,542
Affiliate net assets	1,163	[1]	1,117	[1]	1,041	[1]
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	1,793	[1]	1,843	[1]	1,508	[1]
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	35,194		34,087		28,016
Less: Transfers	382		406		316
Net sales	34,812		33,681		27,700
PTOI	4,832		5,345		4,613
Depreciation and amortization	1,442		1,273		1,094
Equity in earnings of affiliates	99		191		178
Segment net assets	25,384		25,551		17,542
Affiliate net assets	1,468		1,371		1,348
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	1,431		1,530		1,300
Agriculture [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	10,426		9,166		7,845
Less: Transfers	5		1		1
Net sales	10,421		9,165		7,844
PTOI	1,594		1,527		1,293
Depreciation and amortization	337		295		265
Equity in earnings of affiliates	30		58		59
Segment net assets	4,539		4,754		4,903
Affiliate net assets	389		330		289
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	432		420		360
Electronics and Communications [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	2,701		3,173		2,764
Less: Transfers	17		19		17
Net sales	2,684		3,154		2,747
PTOI	135		355		445
Depreciation and amortization	113		99		94
Equity in earnings of affiliates	19		19		26
Segment net assets	1,534		1,867		1,639
Affiliate net assets	151		197		195
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	71		198		260
Industrial Biosciences [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	1,180		705		0
Less: Transfers	11		7		0
Net sales	1,169		698		0
PTOI	168		(1)		0
Depreciation and amortization	79		47		0
Equity in earnings of affiliates	1		(3)		0
Segment net assets	2,571		2,542		0
Affiliate net assets	53		52		0
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	80		61		0
Nutrition and Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	3,422		2,460		1,240
Less: Transfers	0		0		0
Net sales	3,422		2,460		1,240
PTOI	299		44		62
Depreciation and amortization	288		207		109
Equity in earnings of affiliates	0		0		0
Segment net assets	6,515		6,225		950
Affiliate net assets	8		1		2
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	148		115		39
Performance Chemicals [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	7,188		7,794		6,322
Less: Transfers	247		257		216
Net sales	6,941		7,537		6,106
PTOI	1,586		1,923		1,081
Depreciation and amortization	245		252		266
Equity in earnings of affiliates	28		43		24
Segment net assets	3,663		3,536		3,310
Affiliate net assets	180		201		184
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	389		326		225
Performance Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	6,447		6,815		6,287
Less: Transfers	91		109		69
Net sales	6,356		6,706		6,218
PTOI	1,013		971		994
Depreciation and amortization	182		199		205
Equity in earnings of affiliates	42		74		77
Segment net assets	3,537		3,468		3,512
Affiliate net assets	567		445		485
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	186		197		190
Safety and Protection [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	3,825		3,934		3,364
Less: Transfers	11		13		12
Net sales	3,814		3,921		3,352
PTOI	360		500		454
Depreciation and amortization	197		172		151
Equity in earnings of affiliates	32		47		37
Segment net assets	2,970		3,055		2,955
Affiliate net assets	106		111		103
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	118		208		215
Pharmaceuticals [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	0		0		0
Less: Transfers	0		0		0
Net sales	0		0		0
PTOI	62		289		489
Depreciation and amortization	0		0		0
Equity in earnings of affiliates	0		0		0
Segment net assets	(18)		35		40
Affiliate net assets	0		0		0
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	0		0		0
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	5		40		194
Less: Transfers	0		0		1
Net sales	5		40		193
PTOI	(385)		(263)		(205)
Depreciation and amortization	1		2		4
Equity in earnings of affiliates	(53)		(47)		(45)
Segment net assets	73		69		233
Affiliate net assets	14		34		90
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	$ 7		$ 5		$ 11

[1] See Note 1 for additional information on the presentation of the Performance Coatings business which met the criteria for discontinued operations during 2012.