Segment Information (Schedule of Segment Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 5,299	$ 4,873	$ 7,121	$ 7,837	$ 5,849	$ 5,905	$ 8,058	$ 8,594	$ 25,130	[1]	$ 28,406	[1]	$ 28,998	[1]
Segment operating earnings									4,243		5,032		4,906
Depreciation and amortization									1,466		1,617		1,603
Equity in earnings of affiliates									49		(36)		22
Segment net assets	22,156				23,018				22,156		23,018		23,084
Affiliate net assets	688				762				688		762		891
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									1,629		2,020		1,882
Assets held for sale	0				6,227				0		6,227
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									25,130		28,406		28,998
Segment operating earnings									4,243		5,032		4,906
Depreciation and amortization									1,177		1,214		1,181
Equity in earnings of affiliates									47		(37)		23
Segment net assets	22,156				23,018				22,156		23,018		23,084
Affiliate net assets	688				761				688		761		888
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									970		1,100		1,175
Agriculture [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									9,798		11,296		11,728
Segment operating earnings									1,646		2,352		2,480
Depreciation and amortization									453		436		358
Equity in earnings of affiliates									31		31		37
Segment net assets	6,751				6,696				6,751		6,696		5,919
Affiliate net assets	234				240				234		240		272
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									334		407		485
Electronics & Communications [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									2,070		2,381		2,534
Segment operating earnings									359		336		314
Depreciation and amortization									100		97		105
Equity in earnings of affiliates									24		20		20
Segment net assets	1,323				1,359				1,323		1,359		1,448
Affiliate net assets	139				137				139		137		141
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									45		52		73
Industrial Biosciences [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									1,171		1,244		1,211
Segment operating earnings									203		192		151
Depreciation and amortization									84		85		81
Equity in earnings of affiliates									7		8		2
Segment net assets	2,443				2,529				2,443		2,529		2,640
Affiliate net assets	41				45				41		45		48
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									77		90		77
Nutrition & Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									3,256		3,529		3,473
Segment operating earnings									373		369		286
Depreciation and amortization									236		264		271
Equity in earnings of affiliates									0		0		0
Segment net assets	5,457				5,942				5,457		5,942		6,472
Affiliate net assets	9				7				9		7		7
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									120		112		138
Performance Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									5,305		6,059		6,166
Segment operating earnings									1,216		1,267		1,249
Depreciation and amortization									125		139		162
Equity in earnings of affiliates									(8)		(77)		(9)
Segment net assets	2,918				3,125				2,918		3,125		3,334	[2]
Affiliate net assets	171				238				171		238		318
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									159		134		179
Safety & Protection [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									3,527		3,892		3,880
Segment operating earnings									704		772		664
Depreciation and amortization									175		187		198
Equity in earnings of affiliates									23		27		21
Segment net assets	3,045				3,100				3,045		3,100		3,196
Affiliate net assets	73				80				73		80		83
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									105		105		109
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									3		5		6
Segment operating earnings									(258)		(256)		(238)
Depreciation and amortization									4		6		6
Equity in earnings of affiliates									(30)		(46)		(48)
Segment net assets	219				267				219		267		75
Affiliate net assets	$ 21				14				21		14		19
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									$ 130		200		$ 114
GLS/Vinyls [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets held for sale					$ 228						$ 228

[1] Net sales, based on the location of the customer, are generally presented for locations with greater than two percent of total net sales.

[2] Includes assets held for sale related to GLS/Vinyls of $228 as of December 31, 2013. See Note 3 for additional information.