We present a summary of the physical and chemical properties we have obtained for the molecular gas found in galaxies, an essential triggering ingredient to any star formation (SF) process. In particular, we focus our studies on the molecular gas phases as traced by CO, HCO+ and CS line emissions, in a sample of galaxies including starbursts -SBs-, irregulars galaxies, low-metallicity sources, normal spirals, mergers, Early Type Galaxies (ETGs), galaxies with an Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN), with Cosmic Ray Dominated Regions (CRDRs) and with Photo-Dominated Regions (PDRs). Our studies mix theoretical developments (i.e. computational models) with the acquisition of large observational datatsets (at both low and high spatial resolution) that we then compare in order to better determine the conditions under which some SF activity is starting and/or is maintained.
