Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
2016 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve		$ 122	$ 680
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		$ (85)
Restructuring charges			798
Expected percentage reduction in workforce		10.00%
2014 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve		$ 9	78
Restructuring charges				$ 541
Agriculture [Member] | La Porte [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		68
Agriculture [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		23
Restructuring charges			161
Agriculture [Member] | 2014 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		(1)	3
Restructuring charges				134
Electronics & Communications [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		(2)
Restructuring charges			93
Electronics & Communications [Member] | 2014 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		(2)	(15)
Restructuring charges				84
Industrial Biosciences [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		(5)
Restructuring charges			60
Industrial Biosciences [Member] | 2014 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		(1)	1
Restructuring charges				20
Nutrition & Health [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		(7)
Restructuring charges			47
Nutrition & Health [Member] | 2014 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		(2)	3
Restructuring charges				15
Performance Materials [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		(4)
Restructuring charges			61
Performance Materials [Member] | 2014 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		(1)	1
Restructuring charges				99
Protection Solutions [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		(13)
Restructuring charges			44
Protection Solutions [Member] | 2014 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		(1)	(4)
Restructuring charges				45
Other [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		11
Restructuring charges			2
Corporate Expenses [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		(88)
Restructuring charges			330
Corporate Expenses [Member] | 2014 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		(13)	(11)
Restructuring charges				134
Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		(88)
Restructuring charges			793
Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net [Member] | 2014 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges				476
Other income, net [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Charge associated with restructuring actions		3	5
Other income, net [Member] | 2014 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Charge associated with restructuring actions				65
Other income, net [Member] | Performance Materials [Member] | 2014 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Charge associated with restructuring actions				65
Employee Severance [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve		100	648
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		(154)
Restructuring charges			656
Employee Severance [Member] | 2014 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		(21)	(21)
Restructuring charges				301
Employee Severance [Member] | Agriculture [Member] | La Porte [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		16
Other Non-Personnel Charges [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve	[1]	22	32
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	[1]	16
Restructuring charges			33
Other Non-Personnel Charges [Member] | 2014 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges				17
Other Non-Personnel Charges [Member] | Agriculture [Member] | La Porte [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		11
Asset Related [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve		0	0
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		53
Restructuring charges			$ 109
Asset Related [Member] | 2014 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges				$ 223
Asset Related [Member] | Agriculture [Member] | La Porte [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		$ 41

[1] 1. Other non-personnel charges consist of contractual obligation costs.