Segment Information (Schedule of Segment Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 5,211	$ 4,917	$ 7,061	$ 7,405	$ 5,299	$ 4,873	$ 7,121	$ 7,837	$ 24,594	[1]	$ 25,130	[1]	$ 28,406	[1]
Segment operating earnings									4,640		4,243		5,032
Depreciation and amortization									1,258		1,466		1,617
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net									99		49		(36)
Segment net assets	20,817				22,156				20,817		22,156		23,018
Affiliate net assets	649				688				649		688		762
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									1,019		1,629		2,020
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									24,594		25,130		28,406
Segment operating earnings									4,640		4,243		5,032
Depreciation and amortization									1,113		1,177		1,214
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net									99		47		(37)
Segment net assets	20,817				22,156				20,817		22,156		23,018
Affiliate net assets	649				688				649		688		761
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									879		970		1,100
Agriculture [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									9,516		9,798		11,296
Segment operating earnings									1,758		1,646		2,352
Depreciation and amortization									417		453		436
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net									7		31		31
Segment net assets	6,342				6,751				6,342		6,751		6,696
Affiliate net assets	222				234				222		234		240
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									345		334		407
Electronics & Communications [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									1,960		2,070		2,381
Segment operating earnings									358		359		336
Depreciation and amortization									87		100		97
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net									31		24		20
Segment net assets	1,186				1,323				1,186		1,323		1,359
Affiliate net assets	146				139				146		139		137
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									51		45		52
Industrial Biosciences [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									1,500		1,478		1,624
Segment operating earnings									270		243		269
Depreciation and amortization									100		101		102
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net									12		7		8
Segment net assets	2,855				3,154				2,855		3,154		3,241
Affiliate net assets	39				41				39		41		45
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									64		84		94
Nutrition & Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									3,268		3,256		3,529
Segment operating earnings									504		373		369
Depreciation and amortization									223		236		264
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net									0		0		0
Segment net assets	5,182				5,457				5,182		5,457		5,942
Affiliate net assets	4				9				4		9		7
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									111		120		112
Performance Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									5,249		5,305		6,059
Segment operating earnings									1,297		1,216		1,267
Depreciation and amortization									130		125		139
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net									27		(8)		(77)
Segment net assets	2,711				2,918				2,711		2,918		3,125
Affiliate net assets	146				171				146		171		238
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									160		159		134
Protection Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									2,954		3,039		3,304
Segment operating earnings									668		641		672
Depreciation and amortization									146		156		168
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net									33		23		28
Segment net assets	2,220				2,295				2,220		2,295		2,339
Affiliate net assets	81				71				81		71		78
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									120		96		98
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									147		184		213
Segment operating earnings									(215)		(235)		(233)
Depreciation and amortization									10		6		8
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net									(11)		(30)		(47)
Segment net assets	321				258				321		258		316
Affiliate net assets	$ 11				$ 23				11		23		16
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									$ 28		$ 132		$ 203

[1] Net sales, based on the location of the customer, are generally presented for locations with greater than two percent of total net sales.