Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended																														3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended																		3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011 Reportable Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Reportable Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Reportable Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Agriculture [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Agriculture [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Electronics and Communications [Member]		Dec. 31, 2009 Electronics and Communications [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Industrial Biosciences [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Nutrition and Health [Member]		Dec. 31, 2009 Nutrition and Health [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Performance Chemicals [Member]		Dec. 31, 2009 Performance Chemicals [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Performance Coatings [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Performance Coatings [Member]		Dec. 31, 2009 Performance Coatings [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Performance Materials [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Performance Materials [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Performance Materials [Member]		Dec. 31, 2009 Performance Materials [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Safety and Protection [Member]		Dec. 31, 2009 Safety and Protection [Member]		Dec. 31, 2009 Pharmaceuticals [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Other [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Other [Member]		Dec. 31, 2009 Other [Member]		Sep. 30, 2011 Danisco [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Danisco [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Imprelis [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Imprelis [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Imprelis [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pretax benefits (charges)				$ (408)	$ (16)	$ (191)				$ (225)	[1],[2]	$ (50)	[3]	$ 8	[4]	$ (37)	[5],[6]	$ (79)	[7],[8]	$ (126)	[7],[8]	$ 1	[6]	$ 10	[4]	$ (54)	[5],[6]	$ 3	[8]	$ (6)	[4]	$ (15)	[5],[6]		$ 47	[8],[9]	$ 16	[4]	$ 24	[10],[5],[6]	$ 5	[4]	$ (45)	[5],[6]	$ (63)	[11]	$ (28)	[8]	$ 1	[4]	$ (2)	[5],[6]
Upfront payment related to licensing agreement		(50)	(50)							(50)		(50)
Product Claims										(175)																																													(100)	(75)	(175)
Charge for transaction related costs and fair value step-up of inventories acquired							(182)											(70)		(112)																																	(171)	(103)
Restructuring charge	(14)			(50)	34	(210)	(50)		(340)							(43)		(9)		(14)						(66)		3				(65)			(2)				(110)				(55)				(28)				(1)
Benefit from Sale of Business Included in Other Income, Net (Before Tax)																																		49	49
Reduction (Increase) in estimated restructuring costs			34					34	130					8		6						1		10		12				(6)		50					16		52		5		10						1		(1)
Hurricane related adjustment and proceeds																																							82
Adjustment related to increased rebates and sales deductions																																													$ (63)

[1] Included a $(175) charge recorded in cost of goods sold and other operating charges associated with the company's process to fairly resolve claims associated with the use of Imprelis®. See Note 15 for additional information.

[2] Included a $(50) charge recorded in research and development expense in connection with a milestone payment associated with a Pioneer licensing agreement. Since this milestone was reached before regulatory approval was secured by Pioneer, it was charged to research and development expense.

[3] Included a $(50) charge in research and development expense for an upfront payment related to a Pioneer licensing agreement. Since this payment was made before regulatory approval was secured by Pioneer, it was charged to research and development expense.

[4] Included a $34 net reduction (increase) in estimated restructuring costs related to restructuring programs impacting the segments as follows: Electronics & Communications – $8; Performance Chemicals – $10; Performance Coatings – $(6); Performance Materials – $16; Safety & Protection – $5; and Other – $1.

[5] Included a $(340) restructuring charge impacting the segments as follows: Electronics & Communications – $(43); Performance Chemicals – $(66); Performance Coatings – $(65); Performance Materials – $(110); Safety & Protection – $(55); and Other – $(1).

[6] Included a $130 net reduction (increase) in estimated restructuring costs related to the 2008 and 2009 restructuring programs impacting the segments as follows: Electronics & Communications – $6; Nutrition & Health – $1; Performance Chemicals – $12; Performance Coatings – $50; Performance Materials – $52; Safety & Protection – $10; and Other – $(1).

[7] Included a $(182) charge for transaction related costs and the fair value step-up of inventories that were acquired as part of the Danisco transaction, which impacted the segments as follows: Industrial Biosciences - $(70) and Nutrition & Health - $(112).

[8] Included a $(50) restructuring charge primarily related to severance and related benefit costs associated with the Danisco acquisition impacting the segments as follows: Industrial Biosciences - $(9); Nutrition & Health - $(14); Performance Coatings - $3; Performance Materials - $(2); and Other - $(28). See Note 4 for additional information.

[9] Included a $49 benefit recorded in other income, net associated with the sale of a business.

[10] Included an $82 benefit from proceeds and adjustments related to hurricanes impacting the Performance Materials segment.

[11] Included $(63) charge to other income, net and reduction to accounts and notes receivable, net in the Pharmaceuticals segment to reflect increased rebates and other sales deductions related to the Cozaar®/Hyzaar® licensing agreement with Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. This adjustment in 2009 is the result of overstatements to other income, net in prior periods which accumulated over the life of the contract. The company determined the impact of this adjustment was not material to the results of operations in 2009 or for prior periods.