<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM UNION
CARBIDE CORPORATION'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
1997, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000100790
<NAME> UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                              68
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      993
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                        604
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                  1866
<PP&E>                                            7707
<DEPRECIATION>                                    3927
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                    6964
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                             1504
<BONDS>                                           1458
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           155
<OTHER-SE>                                        2193
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                      6964
<SALES>                                           6502
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                  6502
<CGS>                                             4806
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                     4806
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   497<F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  79
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    966
<INCOME-TAX>                                       279
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                676
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                           17
<NET-INCOME>                                       659
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     4.89<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     4.41<F2>
<FN>
<F1>OTHER EXPENSES ARE EQUAL TO RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF 157 AND DEPRECIATION
AND AMORTIZATION OF 340.
<F2>THE EPS-PRIMARY AMOUNT REPRESENTS BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE AND THE
EPS-DILUTED AMOUNT REPRESENTS DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE, COMPUTED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NO. 128,
"EARNINGS PER SHARE".
</FN>