Segment Information (Schedule of Segment Information) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				33 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 Imprelis [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Imprelis [Member]	Mar. 30, 2014 Imprelis [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Agriculture [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Agriculture [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Agriculture [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Agriculture [Member] Imprelis [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Electronics and Communications [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Electronics and Communications [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Industrial Biosciences [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Industrial Biosciences [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Nutrition and Health [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Nutrition and Health [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Performance Chemicals [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Performance Chemicals [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Performance Materials [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Performance Materials [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Safety and Protection [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Safety and Protection [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Other [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Other [Member]
Segment sales	$ 10,209	$ 10,494				$ 4,394	$ 4,669				$ 580	$ 616	$ 301	$ 289	$ 861	$ 868	$ 1,532	$ 1,585	$ 1,593	$ 1,559	$ 947	$ 907	$ 1	$ 1
Less: Transfers	81	86				3	5				3	4	3	3	0	0	57	54	14	19	1	1	0	0
Net sales	10,128	10,408				4,391	4,664				577	612	298	286	861	868	1,475	1,531	1,579	1,540	946	906	1	1
PTOI	2,248	2,241				1,442	1,481	[1]			75	49	56	41	93	76	200	251	299	292	175	138	(92)	(87)
Segment net assets						9,196			5,883
Increase in net assets						3,313
Loss Contingency			$ 0	$ (35)	$ (1,175)					$ (35)

[1] Included charges of $(35) during the three months ended March 31, 2013, recorded in Other operating charges associated with the company's process to fairly resolve claims associated with the use of Imprelis®. See Note 8 for additional information.