Debt and Bank Credit Agreements and Leases (Additional Information) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended								6 Months Ended			1 Months Ended				12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jul. 30, 2012	Nov. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2013 Notes 6.875 Percent Due 2017	Dec. 31, 2012 Notes 6.875 Percent Due 2017	Dec. 31, 2012 Notes 2.70 Percent Due 2022	Dec. 31, 2013 Notes 2.70 Percent Due 2022	Jul. 31, 2012 Notes 2.70 Percent Due 2022	Nov. 30, 2010 Notes 1.900 Percent Due 2016 And 3.600 Percent Due 2020 and 2.700 Percent Due 2022 and 5.500 Percent Due 2040 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Guarantee of Indebtedness of Others	Dec. 31, 2012 Guarantee of Indebtedness of Others	Dec. 31, 2013 International Operations	Dec. 31, 2013 Commodity Chemicals Segment	Dec. 31, 2012 Commodity Chemicals Segment	Dec. 31, 2011 Commodity Chemicals Segment	Mar. 31, 2013 Notes Five Point Seven Five Percent Due Twenty Thirteen [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Credit Agreement	Dec. 31, 2012 Dyrup	Dec. 31, 2013 Revolving Credit Facility Credit Agreement	Dec. 31, 2013 Minimum	Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum	Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum Revolving Credit Facility Credit Agreement
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]
Aggregate maturities of long-term debt, in 2013			$ 4
Aggregate maturities of long-term debt, in 2014			421
Aggregate maturities of long-term debt, in 2015			400
Aggregate maturities of long-term debt, in 2016			77
Aggregate maturities of long-term debt, in 2017			702
Repayments of debt			605	71	400															600
Debt instrument, term																					5 years
Revolving credit facility outstanding																							1,200
Line of credit facility, terminated amount																							1,200
Line of credit facility, additional borrowing capacity available to lender conditions																							300
Hypothetical rate on the credit agreement			0.67%
Unused capacity, commitment fee percentage		0.125%	0.125%																					0.08%	0.225%
Total indebtedness to total capitalization ratio requirement																										60.00%
Ratio of Indebtedness to Net Capital			0.36
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment																								10
Debt instrument, face amount												400
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage								6.875%	6.875%		2.70%	2.70%
Percentage of debt redemption price													101.00%
Proceeds from issuance of debt										397
Debt issuance cost										3
Derivative, Cash Paid on Settlement of Hedge						121
Effective interest rates				5.80%
Acquisition cost in assumed debt			122																			120
Repayments of assumed debt			0	119	0
Repayments of term loan	400
Description of interest rate	The interest rate was variable based on a spread over LIBOR.
Public offering of notes							1,000
Interest Paid			201	219	212
Agreement with a counterparty to repurchase Company stock			5,745,529	1,000,000	10,236,694
Rental expenses for operating leases			264	212	211												1	21	38
Outstanding letters of credit and surety bonds			110	119
Guarantees outstanding			51	96
Related parties, carrying value														1	11
Related parties, fair value														3	11
Financial ratio covenant, provisions			Those provisions generally provide that a default on a debt service payment of $10 million or more for longer than the grace period provided (usually 10 days) under one agreement may result in an event of default under other agreements. None of the Company’s primary debt obligations are secured or guaranteed by the Company’s affiliates.
Debt Instrument, Covenant Description													The terms of these notes also require the Company to make an offer to repurchase Notes upon a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined in the Second Supplemental Indenture) at a price equal to 101% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest.
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity																565
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding																$ 25