Thanks to ALMA, a wide variety of new molecular species are no w
accessible in nearby galaxies. Among these molecules, CN is particularly
interesting as it relates to the dense gas tracer HCN via
photodissociation and should trace the outer UV-heated layers of giant
molecular clouds. In addition, the CN J=1-0 line can be measured
simultaneously w ith the 12CO J=1-0 line at no extra cost in observing
time. I will present the results of an archi val ALMA project
investigating the variation of the CN/CO ratio in a sample of 10 nearby
galaxies and its correlation with properties such as gas mass fraction,
infrared luminosity, and merger p hase.