Segment Information (Schedule of Segment Information) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		27 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended					3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Imprelis [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Imprelis [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Imprelis [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Imprelis [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Imprelis [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Agriculture [Member]		Sep. 30, 2012 Agriculture [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 Agriculture [Member]		Sep. 30, 2012 Agriculture [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Agriculture [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Agriculture [Member] Imprelis [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Agriculture [Member] Imprelis [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Agriculture [Member] Imprelis [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Agriculture [Member] Imprelis [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Electronics and Communications [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Electronics and Communications [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 Electronics and Communications [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Electronics and Communications [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 Industrial Biosciences [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Industrial Biosciences [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 Industrial Biosciences [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Industrial Biosciences [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 Nutrition and Health [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Nutrition and Health [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 Nutrition and Health [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Nutrition and Health [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 Performance Chemicals [Member]		Sep. 30, 2012 Performance Chemicals [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 Performance Chemicals [Member]		Sep. 30, 2012 Performance Chemicals [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 Performance Chemicals [Member] Titanium Dioxide Antitrust Litigation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Performance Chemicals [Member] Titanium Dioxide Antitrust Litigation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Performance Materials [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Performance Materials [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 Performance Materials [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Performance Materials [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 Safety and Protection [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Safety and Protection [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 Safety and Protection [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Safety and Protection [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 Pharmaceuticals [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Pharmaceuticals [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Pharmaceuticals [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Pharmaceuticals [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Other [Member]		Sep. 30, 2012 INVISTA [Member] Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restructuring Program 2012 [Member] Agriculture [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restructuring Program 2012 [Member] Agriculture [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restructuring Program 2012 [Member] Electronics and Communications [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restructuring Program 2012 [Member] Electronics and Communications [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restructuring Program 2012 [Member] Industrial Biosciences [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restructuring Program 2012 [Member] Industrial Biosciences [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restructuring Program 2012 [Member] Nutrition and Health [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restructuring Program 2012 [Member] Nutrition and Health [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restructuring Program 2012 [Member] Performance Chemicals [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restructuring Program 2012 [Member] Performance Chemicals [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restructuring Program 2012 [Member] Performance Materials [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restructuring Program 2012 [Member] Performance Materials [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restructuring Program 2012 [Member] Safety and Protection [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restructuring Program 2012 [Member] Safety and Protection [Member]
Segment sales	$ 7,813	$ 7,480	$ 28,232	$ 27,797						$ 1,633		$ 1,423		$ 9,933	[1]	$ 8,891							$ 638	$ 607		$ 1,907	$ 2,079		$ 305	$ 292		$ 898	$ 880		$ 868	$ 876		$ 2,601	$ 2,569		$ 1,720		$ 1,732		$ 5,087		$ 5,600				$ 1,663	$ 1,614		$ 4,892	$ 4,913		$ 985	$ 934		$ 2,909	$ 2,861		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1	$ 2	$ 5	$ 4
Less: Transfers	78	90	245	310						3		0		10	[1]	4							3	4		12	13		3	3		10	8		0	0		0	0		46		56		153		202				22	24		57	74		1	3		3	9		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Net sales	7,735	7,390	27,987	27,487						1,630		1,423		9,923	[1]	8,887							635	603		1,895	2,066		302	289		888	872		868	876		2,601	2,569		1,674		1,676		4,934		5,398				1,641	1,590		4,835	4,839		984	931		2,906	2,852		0	0	0	0	1	2	5	4
PTOI	741	461	4,759	4,845						(102)	[2]	(198)	[2],[3]	2,240	[1],[2]	1,772	[2],[3]						97	(99)	[3],[4]	241	181	[3],[4],[5]	45	37	[3]	129	118	[3]	81	64	[3]	218	248	[3]	182	[6]	410	[3]	697	[6]	1,575	[3]			374	230	[3],[4]	1,002	851	[3],[4]	171	92	[3]	481	432	[3]	5	10	27	53	(112)	(85)	(276)	(385)	[7]
Segment net assets										9,692				9,692				4,756
Increase in net assets														4,936
Loss Contingency					(65)	(125)	(180)	(440)	(930)										(65)	(125)	(180)	(440)																											(72)	(72)
Insurance recoveries					25		25												25		25
Gain on sale of equity method investment																											122
Charge related to litigation settlement																																																																								(137)
Restructuring charge																																																																									(93)	(93)	(3)	(3)	(7)	(7)	(3)	(3)	(13)	(13)	(3)	(3)	(9)	(9)	(55)	(55)
Asset Impairment Charges		$ (242)		$ (242)																				$ (150)			$ (150)																									$ (92)			$ (92)

[1] As of September 30, 2013, Agriculture net assets were $9,692, an increase of $4,936 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 $(65) and $(180), offset by $25 of insurance recoveries, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and charges of $(125) and $(440) during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, recorded in 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.

[3] Included a $(93) restructuring charge impacting the following segments: Agriculture - $(3), Electronics & Communications - $(7), Industrial Biosciences - $(3), Nutrition & Health - $(13), Performance Chemicals - $(3), Performance Materials - $(9), and Safety & Protection - $(55).

[4] Included a $(242) impairment charge recorded in employee separation/asset related charges, net related to asset groupings, which impacted the segments as follows: Electronics & Communications - $(150) and Performance Materials - $(92). See Note 3 for additional information.

[5] Included a $122 gain recorded in other income, net related to the sale of the company's interest in an equity method investment.

[6] Included a $(72) charge related to the titanium dioxide antitrust litigation. See Note 9 for additional information.

[7] Included a $(137) charge recorded in other operating charges related to the company's settlement of litigation with INVISTA.