Quarterly Financial Data (Schedule of Quarterly Financial Data) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ 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
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
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]
Cost of goods sold	3,147		3,090		3,990		4,242		3,409		3,084		4,103		4,516		14,469		15,112		17,023
Employee separation / asset related charges, net	393	[2]	172	[2]	(90)	[2]	77	[2]	770	[2]	0	[2]	2	[2]	38	[2]	552		810		476
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	353	[3],[4]	(56)	[4]	1,333	[4],[5]	1,635	[4],[5],[6]	(421)	[7],[8],[9]	227	[10],[11]	1,234	[9],[10]	1,551	[7],[10],[11]	3,265		2,591		4,313
Net income	$ 263		$ 6		$ 1,024		$ 1,232		$ (256)		$ 235		$ 945		$ 1,035		$ 2,525		$ 1,959		$ 3,636
Basic earnings per share of common stock from continuing operations	$ 0.29	[12]	$ 0.01	[12]	$ 1.17	[12]	$ 1.40	[12]	$ (0.26)	[12]	$ 0.14	[12]	$ 1.07	[12]	$ 1.12	[12]	$ 2.86		$ 2.10		$ 3.42
Diluted earnings per share of common stock from continuing operations	$ 0.29	[12]	$ 0.01	[12]	$ 1.16	[12]	$ 1.39	[12]	$ (0.26)	[12]	$ 0.14	[12]	$ 1.06	[12]	$ 1.11	[12]	$ 2.85		$ 2.09		$ 3.39

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

[2] See Note 4 for additional information.

[3] .

[4] First, second, third and fourth quarter 2016 included charges of $(24), $(76), $(122), and $(164), respectively, recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses related to transaction costs associated with the planned merger with the Dow Chemical Company announced on December 11, 2015. See Note 2 for additional information.

[5] First quarter 2016 included a benefit of $23, in other operating charges, for reductions in the accrual for customer claims related to the use of the Imprelis® herbicide. The company recorded insurance recoveries of $30 in the second quarter 2016, in other operating charges, for recovery of costs for customer claims related to the use of the Agriculture's segment Imprelis® herbicide.

[6] First quarter 2016 included a gain of $369 recorded in other income, net associated with the sale of the DuPont (Shenzhen) Manufacturing Limited entity, which held certain buildings and other assets. See Note 3 for additional information.

[7] First quarter 2015 included a $(40) pre-tax charge within other income, net associated with the re-measurement of the Ukraine hyrvnia net monetary assets.

[8] Fourth quarter 2015 included charges of $(10) recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses related to transaction costs associated with the planned merger with the Dow Chemical Company announced on December 11, 2015. See Note 2 for additional information.

[9] Second and fourth quarter 2015 included gains of $112 and $33, respectively, net of legal expenses, recorded in other income, net related to the company's settlement of a legal claim. This matter relates to the Protection Solutions segment.

[10] First and third quarter 2015 included charges of $(12) and $(9), respectively, recorded in other operating charges associated with transaction costs related to the separation of the Performance Chemicals segment. Second quarter 2015 included charges of $(5) recorded in other operating charges and $(20) recorded in interest expense. See Note 3 for additional information.

[11] First and third quarter 2015 included net insurance recoveries of $35 and $147, respectively, recorded in other operating charges in the Agriculture segment, for recovery of costs for customer claims related to the use of the Imprelis® herbicide. Fourth quarter 2015 included a benefit of $130 in other operating charges for reduction in accrual for customer claims related to the use of the Agriculture segment’s Imprelis® herbicide.

[12] Earnings per share for the year may not equal the sum of quarterly earnings per share due to changes in average share calculations.