Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Cash provided (required) by operating activities of continuing operations:
Net income	$ 243.8		$ 276.1
Discontinued operations	83.2		58.3
Income from continuing operations	327.0		334.4
Adjustments from income from continuing operations to cash provided (required) by operating activities of continuing operations:
Depreciation and amortization	98.0		91.7
Equity in (earnings) loss of affiliates	0.6		0.5
Restructuring and other charges (income)	45.0		47.3
Deferred income taxes	(25.0)		27.8
Pension and other postretirement benefits	22.8		48.2
Share-based Compensation	11.5		12.2
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	(4.4)		(6.7)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions and divestitures:
Trade receivables, net	(95.7)		(93.9)
Guarantees of vendor financing	25.5		(10.1)
Inventories	(78.3)		(14.0)
Accounts payable	1.8		0.6
Advance payments from customers	(174.8)		(122.1)
Accrued customer rebates	143.0		194.8
Income taxes	26.6		(29.1)
Pension and other postretirement benefit contributions	(65.2)		(63.1)
Environmental spending, continuing, net of recoveries	(9.1)		(4.3)
Restructuring and other spending	(6.6)		(8.8)
Change in other operating assets and liabilities, net	(8.1)		(24.8)
Cash provided (required) by operating activities of continuing operations	234.6		380.6
Cash provided (required) by operating activities of discontinued operations:
Environmental spending, discontinued, net of recoveries	(6.9)		(19.2)
Operating activities of discontinued operations of FMC Peroxygens	(1.2)		(5.2)
Payments of other discontinued reserves, net of recoveries	(24.8)		(7.0)
Cash provided (required) by operating activities of discontinued operations	(32.9)		(31.4)
Cash provided (required) by investing activities of continuing operations:
Capital expenditures	(172.6)		(159.6)
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment	0.3		2.1
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0		(339.6)
Investments in nonconsolidated affiliates	(0.8)		(6.2)
Other investing activities	(24.8)		(52.0)
Cash provided (required) by investing activities of continuing operations	(197.9)		(555.3)
cash provided (required) by investing activities of discontinued operations [Abstract]
Proceeds from FMC Peroxygens divestiture	199.1		0
Other discontinued investing activities	(0.6)		(15.2)
Cash provided (required) by investing activities of discontinued operations	198.5		(15.2)
Cash provided (required) by financing activities of continuing operations:
Net borrowings (repayments) under committed credit facility	0		(130.0)
Increase (decrease) in short-term debt	(101.2)		869.5
Repayments of long-term debt	(17.7)		(0.5)
Proceeds from borrowings of long-term debt	0		11.6
Financing fees	(8.8)		(0.9)
Net distributions to and acquisitions of noncontrolling interests	(21.4)		(89.9)
Issuances of common stock, net	7.5		9.9
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	4.4		6.7
Dividends paid	(58.1)	[1]	(55.6)	[1]
Repurchases of common stock under publicly announced program	0		(359.9)
Other repurchases of common stock	(4.3)		(6.7)
Contingent consideration paid	0		(0.5)
Cash provided (required) by financing activities of continuing operations	(199.6)		253.7
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(1.6)		0.1
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1.1		32.5
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	123.2		77.1
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 124.3		$ 109.6

[1] See Note 14 regarding quarterly cash dividend