Segment Information (Schedule of Segment Information) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			21 Months Ended	3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 Imprelis [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Imprelis [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Agriculture [Member]		Mar. 31, 2012 Agriculture [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Agriculture [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Agriculture [Member] Imprelis [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Agriculture [Member] Imprelis [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Electronics and Communications [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Electronics and Communications [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Industrial Biosciences [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Industrial Biosciences [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Nutrition and Health [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Nutrition and Health [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Performance Chemicals [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Performance Chemicals [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Performance Materials [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Performance Materials [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Safety and Protection [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Safety and Protection [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Pharmaceuticals [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Pharmaceuticals [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Other [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Other [Member]
Segment sales	$ 10,494	$ 10,295			$ 4,669	[1]	$ 4,080	[1]				$ 616	$ 677	$ 289	$ 288	$ 868	$ 808	$ 1,585	$ 1,900	$ 1,559	$ 1,600	$ 907	$ 941	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1	$ 1
Less: Transfers	86	115			5	[1]	2	[1]				4	4	3	3	0	0	54	77	19	26	1	3	0	0	0	0
Net sales	10,408	10,180			4,664	[1]	4,078	[1]				612	673	286	285	868	808	1,531	1,823	1,540	1,574	906	938	0	0	1	1
PTOI	2,241	2,423			1,481	[1],[2]	1,288	[1],[2]				49	59	41	39	76	79	251	571	292	277	138	159	4	27	(91)	(76)
Segment net assets					8,141				4,756
Increase in net assets					3,385
Product claims			$ (35)	$ (785)						$ (35)	$ (50)

[1] As of March 31, 2013, Agriculture net assets were $8,141, an increase of $3,385 from $4,756 at December 31, 2012. The increase was primarily due to higher trade receivables due to normal seasonality in the sales and cash collections cycle.

[2] Included charges of $(35) and $(50) during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, 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 9 for additional information.