Segment Information (Schedule of Segment Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2015		Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2014
Net sales	$ 4,873		$ 5,905		$ 19,831		$ 22,557
PTOI	580		686		3,945		4,448
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment					(2)
Restructuring charges							(187)
Agriculture [Member]
Net sales	1,093		1,563		8,248		9,564
PTOI	(63)	[1]	(56)		1,878	[1],[2]	2,171	[3]
Segment net assets	10,162				10,162				$ 6,695
Increase in net assets					3,467
Electronics & Communications [Member]
Net sales	532		620		1,577		1,810
PTOI	104		90		283	[2]	176	[3]
Industrial Biosciences [Member]
Net sales	305		314		870		925
PTOI	52		42		147	[2]	146	[3]
Nutrition & Health [Member]
Net sales	810		899		2,449		2,686
PTOI	102		99		284	[2]	282	[3]
Performance Materials [Member]
Net sales	1,302		1,531		4,021		4,618
PTOI	317		366	[4]	933	[2]	1,303	[3],[4]
Safety & Protection [Member]
Net sales	831		976		2,663		2,950
PTOI	156		195		635	[2],[5]	536	[3]
Gain related to litigation settlement					112
Other Segment [Member]
Net sales	0		2		3		4
PTOI	(88)		$ (50)		(215)	[2],[6]	(166)	[3]
Imprelis [Member] | Agriculture [Member]
Insurance recoveries, net of legal expenses	$ 147				182
Cost basis investment impairment [Member]
Cost basis investment impairment					(37)
Cost basis investment impairment [Member] | Other Segment [Member]
Cost basis investment impairment					(37)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring charges							(244)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Agriculture [Member]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment					(4)
Restructuring charges							(47)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Electronics & Communications [Member]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment					11
Restructuring charges							(68)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Industrial Biosciences [Member]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment					(1)
Restructuring charges							(2)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Nutrition & Health [Member]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment					(4)
Restructuring charges							(8)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Performance Materials [Member]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment					(2)
Restructuring charges							(29)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Safety & Protection [Member]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment					1
Restructuring charges							(31)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Other Segment [Member]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment					$ (3)
Restructuring charges							(2)
GLS/Vinyls [Member]
Pre-tax gain							391
GLS/Vinyls [Member] | Performance Materials [Member]
Pre-tax gain							$ 391

[1] Included $147 and $182 of net insurance recoveries recorded in other operating charges for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, for recovery of costs for customer claims related to the use of the Imprelis® herbicide. See Note 10 for additional information.

[2] Included $(2) net adjustment to the estimated costs associated with the 2014 restructuring program, recorded in employee separation / asset related charges, net. These adjustments were primarily due to the identification of additional projects in certain segments, offset by lower than estimated individual severance costs and workforce reductions achieved through non-severance programs. The adjustments impacted segment results for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 as follows: Agriculture - $(4) , Electronics & Communications - $11, Industrial Biosciences - $(1), Nutrition & Health - $(4), Performance Materials - $(2), and Safety & Protection $1, and Other - $(3). See Note 3 for additional information.

[3] Included a $(187) restructuring charge recorded in employee separation / asset related charges, net. The pre-tax charges by segment are: Agriculture -$(47) , Electronics & Communications -$(68) , Industrial Biosciences - $(2) , Nutrition & Health -$(8) , Performance Materials - $(29) , Safety & Protection - $(31), and Other - $(2). See Note 3 for additional information.

[4] Included a gain of $391 recorded in other income, net associated with the sale of GLS/Vinyls. See Note 2 for additional information.

[5] Included a gain of $112, net of legal expenses, recorded in other income, net related to the company’s settlement of a legal claim.

[6] Included a $(37) pre-tax impairment charge recorded in employee separation / asset related charges, net for a cost basis investment. See Note 3 for additional information.