Quarterly Financial Data (Schedule of Quarterly Financial Data) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2010		Mar. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Net sales	$ 8,425		$ 9,238		$ 10,264		$ 10,034		$ 7,404		$ 7,001		$ 8,616		$ 8,484		$ 37,961	$ 31,505	$ 26,109
Cost of goods sold and other expenses	8,230	[1],[2],[3]	8,714	[1],[4],[5],[6]	8,789	[1],[7]	8,257	[1]	7,235	[1],[8],[9]	6,634	[1]	7,409	[1]	7,154	[1]
Income before income taxes	422	[10]	569		1,589		1,702		226	[11]	330		1,568	[12]	1,587		4,282	3,711	2,184
Net income	$ 377	[10]	$ 460		$ 1,229		$ 1,444		$ 378	[13]	$ 369		$ 1,168	[12]	$ 1,137		$ 3,510	$ 3,052	$ 1,769
Basic earnings per share of common stock	$ 0.40	[14]	$ 0.48	[14]	$ 1.31	[14]	$ 1.54	[14]	$ 0.41	[14]	$ 0.40	[14]	$ 1.27	[14]	$ 1.24	[14]	$ 3.73	$ 3.32	$ 1.93
Diluted earnings per share of common stock	$ 0.40	[14]	$ 0.48	[14]	$ 1.29	[14]	$ 1.52	[14]	$ 0.40	[14]	$ 0.40	[14]	$ 1.26	[14]	$ 1.24	[14]	$ 3.68	$ 3.28	$ 1.92

[1] Excludes interest expense and non-operating items.

[2] Included a $(100) charge associated with the company's process to fairly resolve claims associated with the use of Imprelis®. See description in Note 15 for further details.

[3] Included a $(14) charge for restructuring costs primarily associated with the Danisco acquisition.

[4] Included a $(75) charge associated with the company's process to fairly resolve claims associated with the use of Imprelis®. See description in Note 15 for further details.

[5] Included a $(50) charge recorded in connection with a milestone payment associated with a Pioneer licensing agreement. See description in Note 21 for further details.

[6] Included charges related to the businesses acquired from Danisco of $(171), including $(3) of transaction costs, a $(132) charge related to the fair value step-up of inventories that were acquired from Danisco and a $(36) restructuring charge related to severance and related benefit costs.

[7] Included charges related to the businesses acquired from Danisco of $(103), including $(60) of transaction costs and a $(43) charge related to the fair value step-up of inventories that were acquired from Danisco.

[8] Included a $34 net reduction in estimated costs related to prior years restructuring programs primarily due to overall workforce reductions through lower than estimated individual severance costs and workforce reductions through non-severance programs.

[9] Included a $(50) charge in research and development expense for an upfront payment related to a Pioneer licensing agreement. See description in Note 21 for further details.

[10] Included a pre-tax gain of $49 recorded in other income, net associated with the sale of a business in the Performance Materials segment and a related tax benefit of $73.

[11] Included a $(179) charge in interest expense associated with the early extinguishment of debt.

[12] Included benefits for the adjustment of accrued interest of $59 ($38 after-tax) in other income, net and the adjustment of income tax accruals of $49 associated with settlements of tax contingencies related to prior years.

[13] Included a $39 benefit for the reversal of a tax valuation allowance related to the net deferred tax assets of a foreign subsidiary.

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